Director: Steve Hoover.
Starring: Rocky Braat, Steve Hoover.
Running Time: 92 minutes.
Synopsis: An intimate portrait of Rocky Braat, a young man who longed to find a family. Unknowingly, this desire would lead him to an AIDS hostel in India, a place of unspeakable hardship where he would find more love than he could imagine.
Following the story of Rocky Braat, or Rocky Anna (‘brother’), as he is known to the children in an orphanage in Tamil Nadu, we follow his road of dissatisfaction that spurs him onto taking a road trip to India for a moment of clarity. Never imagining he’d find his true calling when ending up looking after children in an orphanage dedicated to helping those with HIV, we see Rocky being refused a visa and living in rat-infested houses all while attempting to give these children a happy and healthy life for as long as he can.
From the get go you can see how Rocky is trying to compensate for his lack of life in America, speaking of how he longed to be accepted, and you can’t help but feel sorry for him. Clown, dentist, gift bearer and doctor, Rocky is most importantly their brother and gives them all that he never had – stability. The most heartbreaking moments are when Braat’s heroism is questioned, especially when he takes a dying girl to the hospital when religion states that the body should be laid in a temple to let God deal with it. With the blame turning to him and the stress becoming so much that he becomes ill, our fallen superhero once again steps back up to the mark to deal with the plight of a young boy named Surya.
Director Steve Hoover, who is best known for his work on music videos, not only manages to create an astonishing looking film, but also plays a big part in the journey of the protagonist. Friends for ten years, Hoover just wants the old Rocky back, but finally accepts that India has taken his heart. BLOOD BROTHER is a documentary that leaves your heart aching in such a good way that it will make you run home to your loved ones and embrace them. Hoover hopes that, “This story could inspire others,” and it truly does.
ACT V, Red Hot and Arms Around The Child partnered with BLOOD BROTHER in response to Rocky Braat’s journey as a way to directly help and support Rocky, the children and other orphanages. Find out how you can help by visiting: www.bloodbrotherfilm.com
THE SUNDANCE LONDON FILM AND MUSIC FESTIVAL RUNS FROM 25-28 APRIL AT THE O2. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND TICKETS VISIT: http://www.sundance-london.com
