The film is the most effective in these moments of flashback, an oft-overused convention that works very well in this film. In doing so, Bruce illuminates his life back in the 1920's, in Harlem, during the grand renaissance when blacks, unprecendentally, began to blossom in all areas.
Then he meets Bruce Nugent, an aging artist and writer, who attempts to guide Perry through this tricky path of self-discovery. Supported unconditionally by his best friend Marcus and another friend Jim, Perry spends the early part of the film wandering around, seemingly going through the motions, but unsure of the meaning behind it all. But what is their connection, to life in the 1920's, to life in Harlem, and their role in the pre-Civil Rights Movement? And what is their role to us today? Rodney Evans' inspiring independent picture, 'Brother to Brother' atttempts to answer that question.Īnthony Mackie plays Perry, a young, gay, black artist struggling to find his place in this world and his own community.
Names we all recognize: Langston Hughes, Zora Lean Hurston, Wally Thurman.
