Two Brothers Movie Review:


Annaud brings his high production values and painstaking style of filmmaking (Quest for Fire, The Name of the Rose) to this fascinating tale of two tigers separated as cubs and raised very differently. Yes, there's a strain of cheesiness in the entire idea, but Annaud maintains a strong narrative drive, creates vivid characters and includes enough context and subtext to make it somewhat provocative for older viewers.

In early 20th century Cambodia, British hunter-adventurer Aidan McRory (Pearce) is in the jungle to collect ancient statues when he befriends a lonely tiger cub (named Koumal), which is taken from him and sold to a circus. Meanwhile, the cub's twin brother (Sangha) is rescued by the son (Highmore) of the colonial governor (Dreyfus), but ends up in the menagerie of the local ruler (Nguyen). While Koumal's spirit is broken so he can be taught to do tricks, Sangha is turned into a fierce fighter for a big event a year later, when the two brothers finally meet again ... in a ring where they're expected to battle to the death.

The plot sounds like a Disney cartoon, but it's played out in a thoroughly natural way, with stunning camera work and astonishingly well-trained tigers! The film not only looks gorgeous, but the script digs into the local politics and customs, colonial tensions, the pressures of environmentalism and trade, cross-cultural friendships and even a touch of romance. The actors play it straight, clearly aware that the tigers are the stars (Koumal and Sangha get top billing). But they effectively bring us into the story, providing rounded characters who are each a bit nicer, meaner, more callous or more curious than the usual stereotypes.

The balance between human and tiger plots works well, although scenes in which the tigers seem to express emotional responses are a bit much--starting with the, erm, seduction/conception sequence that opens the film! And the tone does wander a bit from serious drama to intense action to goofy antics. But kids will love it, especially since it doesn't soften the story for them. And there's enough here to spark a grown-up mind as well.

Rich Cline

Two tiger cubs are taken from their mother in Southeast Asia to spend the first year of their lives in captivity. On is named Kumal and forced to perform in a circus. The other is named Sangha by the son of French Administrator of the Region and is kept as a pet, but he is offered to the local Prince as a gift and trained as a fighting animal. As the two brothers live their separate lives, destiny will bring them back together but it won’t be in the best of circumstances.

A movie with hardly any dialogue and were two animals are the real stars might not seem like the most exciting premise but this is a whimsical tale that with lift the hearts of everyone.

From director Jean-Jacque Annaud, the man behind the critically acclaimed “The Bear”, comes a story told from the point of view of two magnificent tigers as their world is torn apart by the intrusion of man into their environment. Set in the early 20th Century, the tale takes place when hunting was a so-called civilised obsession and the old world was a treasure trove for western explorers to be exploited.

Guy Pearce plays a quintessential character from the time in explorer and hunter extraordinaire Aidan McRory. He is a writer and a scholar who lives for high adventure and the chance to make some money. Pearce plays the character effortlessly and the script lets the role grow as the story progresses. As he sees the repercussions of his actions, he soon realises that his life might not be as great as he portrays himself in his popular novels. The rest of the cast are really none existent, quite faceless characters that only really appear to drive the story forward.

The stars of the show are the tigers. These true kings of the jungle are truly majestic. You witness their growth from unbelievably cute cubs to fully-grown jungle cats, masters of their domain and top of the predatory food chain. The film then shows some of the travesties of man during that time, as both of the animals have their time in different kinds of captivity but both of them share similar cruel treatment.

Jean-Jacque Annaud and his cinematographer Jean-Marie Dreujou photograph the animals and the glorious Southeast Asian jungle beautifully. A combination of special effects and expert animal training make the story a believeable adventure, as the tiger engulf the screen with all their majesty. The sheer patience of the filmmakers must have being extraordinary as they big and little cats provide most of the story and the action of the movie.

Two Brothers is slightly sugary sweet in places, especially during the ending and the human characters are very underdeveloped but this is still a very good piece of family entertainment. By the time the end credit role you will have fallen in love with these magnificent animals and want to phone the WWF to pledge that monthly donation the TV adverts are always clamouring for.

Star Rating = * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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