i think this movie deserves 8/10 for the rating.
the only problem is some amateur camera work and audio work.
some shots are overexposed, some under, and the extreme close-ups are just
far too intrusive to the subjects.
this documentary shows the terrible discrimination that poor people face in american society.
well done over all. good viewing for students and adults who are interested in social issues, and justice.
I saw this documentary on PBS. It seems like every rural county has some people like the Wards, not necessarily bad, just a little simpler and cruder.
shareBelieve me. The Wards are not cruel. They are simpler and not the highest on bathing. They're kind people who only want to live there lives in peace. That's it. No conspiracy in the family. Also, if you ever met them, you'd know there's no way that Delbert could have done it. He didn't have the physical capacity.
shareI dunno. Some of the way the brothers behaved suggested to me that it was a mercy killing and they saw nothing wrong with it, which is why they fessed up to it readily. Only afterwards, when they realized that Delbert could face punishment did he suddenly pretend that he didn't understand anything.
The DA did a good job to show that Delbert was *not* retarded, and knew a lot more of what was going on than the defense atty would have us believe.
With the substantial doubt in the case I supported the verdict. Even if it *was* a mercy killing I think justice was served. I am just saying what I believe truly happened.
I live very near Munnsville and am even related to them, though very distantly. Delbert was, indeed, mentally incapacitated with a borderline i.q.
He was agoraphobic and was hardly ever seen in town. Everyone has a story to tell about the Ward brothers here, they were loved and looked after by the town. Most people think that Delbert put his hand over Billy's mouth to see if he was breathing. When asked, Delbert spoke the truth, he did put his hand over his brother's mouth, but he knew he was dead by then.
We also wanted you to know that the movie crew hand picked who was going to be in the movie, including at the dinner and courthouse. It was not a completely truthful representation of the citizens of Munnsville.
If you think that the DA's questioning about television shows shows that Delbert wasn't retarded, you clearly don't know too many retarded people. Not everyone is Chris Burke.
shareThis is the second time watching the movie. The first time I was a freshmen in high school, so I couldn't really discriminate between good and bad camera angles.
But, oh boy, could I distinguish the second time. I really enjoyed the movie because, like it has been said, it deals truthfully with power dynamics among class, specifically the wealthy elite and the poor.
I only have one thing to say about the camera angles: I really, really got tired of seeing the brother's nose hair.
I like the movie because it reminds me of a William Faulkner short story. I little of A Rose for Emily or Dry September. The only difference, of course, was the support of the town.
i think an 8 out of 10 is a fair rating. i thought it was a really good documentary. the story didn't interest me as much as the story in the filmmaker's later "paradise lost" films but i think this film is better cause it's a little biased. it's pretty clear in the paradise lost films (especially the 2nd one) that 2 directors thought those boys were innocent whereas with "brother's keeper" they let the audience decide. between these 3 films i've mentioned how much access these guys get to the respective communities of their topics. it's makes their films so good...partly.
shareNo angle could have concealed that nose hair - except maybe from behind.
shareWhat? The camera work was excellent.
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