Brother’s Keeper

A Wretched Recommendation!

Brother’s Keeper (1992)

Fascinating documentary about the four Ward brothers, poverty-stricken illiterate farmers who lived together in a two-room shack their entire lives. Their reclusive world was turned inside-out when the oldest brother Bill died and the youngest brother Delbert was accused of suffocating him based upon some questionable autopsy evidence. Bill had been suffering for many weeks, possibly from cancer, and Delbert was accused of having placed his hand over Bill’s mouth as they slept side-by-side in the same bed to “mercy kill” his brother. The entire community of Munnville, NY – who had previously shunned the unhygienic and eccentric brothers – rallied around Delbert, coming up with his bail money and standing beside him during his trial.

The most fascinating part of the documentary, for me, was thinking about the sheltered lives that the Ward brothers had led. Imagine living in the same two-room shack your entire life with your brothers, sharing the same bed, never showering, just getting up every day and working hard just to get by. The story of these “boys in the bodies of men” just made me sad, and made me think of my brother Carl, who is similar to the boys in many ways: Unlived lives, lost potential. Overall, a very sad film, but somehow hopeful despite it all. (4/5)