My Brother the Devil
Fourteen-year-old Mo is a solitary, sensitive youth whose eagerness for the banter and camaraderie of friends drives him toward risky terrain. He idolizes his older brother Rashid, a handsome, charismatic and well-respected member of a local gang whose drug dealing enables him to provide for the family. Eager to be seen as a tough guy, Mo accepts a job that unlocks a fateful turn of events and compels the brothers to confront their inner demons. Hate is easy; it is love and understanding that take real courage.
Director(s)
Sally El Hosaini
Details
Reviews
CinemaSerf
"Rashid" (James Floyd) is a good looking and charming lad who has all that his younger brother "Mo" (Fady Elsayed) wants. He's well thought of, got a nice girlfriend and has a bit of cash. How he gets that money is what he is determined to keep from his brother - he wants better things for him. Needless to say, "Mo" doesn't always appreciate that, and decides one day to follow his freshly spruced up brother thinking he was on a clandestine date. He was sort of right, but is not quite ready for what he discovers. "Rashid", meantime, is prepared to do one final job before leaving the estate - and hopes that this will ensure his sibling can stay clear of his dodgy life. It's a bit routine to start with, this. Lots of "bro" and "fam" kind of dialogue to accompany a typical London gang culture drama, but as the two principle characters start to evolve, it becomes more of a study of the younger man as he has to deal with is own aspirations and prejudices whilst "Rashid" some hitherto unthinkable love. Both Floyd and Elsayed deliver well here as the story builds, but the denouement is confused, a little bit rushed and hasn't quite the courage of it's earlier convictions. Still, it's a decent effort from Sally El Hosaini at addressing taboos amidst the UK's population of young Egyptian men, and is worth a look.
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