Mohamed is deeply shaken and suspicious when his eldest son Malek returns home from Syria with a mysterious Syrian wife in tow…

Brotherhood shapes out to become one of the most important short films of the year. A Perfect depiction of shifting ideologies and perceptions, taken from the other point-of-view. Meryam Joobeur is a young Montreal based filmmaker which is already turning heads at renown festivals. It’s to no surprise that Brotherhood has landed an Oscar Nomination – Watch the other nominated shorts.

Mohamed is deeply shaken and suspicious when his estranged eldest son Malek returns home from Syria to rural Tunisia with a mysterious young wife in tow. The emotional complexities of a family reunion and past wounds lead to tragic consequences.

Mohamed, un berger tunisien, est profondément bouleversé et méfiant lorsque son fils aîné, Malek, revient de Syrie, accompagné de sa mystérieuse femme. Les complexités émotionnelles d’une réunion famille et de blessures passées entraînent des conséquences tragiques.

Brotherhood quickly captures our attention with its unique environment and characters. As the story takes shape and the setting widens, we are struck by the conflicting development between father and son. Combined with the remarkable cinematography lead by DoP Vincent Gonneville, we embark on this cold and mischievous journey of cultural barriers.

Meryam on being inspired by chance encounters

The journey of ‘Brotherhood’ started with a chance meeting in February 2016. It was my first time in northern Tunisia. I had planned a weeklong road trip to discover more of my country; on the third day of the trip, I spotted two brothers leading a flock of sheep across a lush green hillside. The contrast of their unique, freckled faces against the green landscape immediately struck me. So I stopped the car to see if I could take their photograph. Malek was protective of his younger brother, Chaker, and refused. I continued on my trip, but I was deeply marked by their faces and the mystery of their lives.

segment from Vimeo Staff Pick Premieres – read the full article