I was lucky enough to catch My Brother Tom yesterday on the only showing this movie ever got in theaters in The Netherlands. With an audience of only 3, including myself, I wonder what is wrong with movie lovers these days. In general terms, the movie is about how a traumatic event affects the lives of two teenagers. Their view of the world is altered, their 'innocence' lost, as they discover that the outside world is a cruel and indifferent one, and that youthful peace and joy only remains within themselves - and between two people, if at all. 'They never listen' Tom says at one point, voicing an all too familiar (but true) sentiment among teenagers with or without scars.
The acting is wonderful and refreshing, although I did think both actors appeared older than their roles which at times interfered with the story. But perhaps that can't be helped with a subject like this. To see that this is Jenna Harrison's first role, amazes me, she's a natural. Whishaw's acting as Tom left me wondering 'what is wrong with that guy' as if he had some kind of mental condition. But at all times I wondered about Tom, not Whishaw - they were one and the same, as far as I was concerned.
The film felt almost like a fairytale at times, albeit a dark one. The bond between Tom and Jessica is painfully believable, and wonderfully disarming at the same time. It felt real, and that is a great achievement.
The acting is wonderful and refreshing, although I did think both actors appeared older than their roles which at times interfered with the story. But perhaps that can't be helped with a subject like this. To see that this is Jenna Harrison's first role, amazes me, she's a natural. Whishaw's acting as Tom left me wondering 'what is wrong with that guy' as if he had some kind of mental condition. But at all times I wondered about Tom, not Whishaw - they were one and the same, as far as I was concerned.
The film felt almost like a fairytale at times, albeit a dark one. The bond between Tom and Jessica is painfully believable, and wonderfully disarming at the same time. It felt real, and that is a great achievement.