A Brother's Kiss

Last updated
A Brother's Kiss
Directed by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld
Screenplay bySeth Zvi Rosenfeld
Based onA Brother's Kiss
by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld
Produced by
  • Bob Potter
  • E. Bennett Walsh
Starring
CinematographyFortunato Procopio
Edited byDonna Stern
Music by Frank London
Distributed by First Look Studios
Release date
  • April 25, 1997 (1997-04-25)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

A Brother's Kiss is a 1997 American independent drama film written and directed by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld and starring Nick Chinlund and Michael Raynor. It is based on the 1988 play by Rosenfeld [1] and also his directorial debut. [2] Rosenfeld grew up in the same neighborhood as actor Michael Raynor; Raynor and actor Nick Chinlund were friends as children.

Contents

Plot

Mick (Michael Raynor) and Lex (Nick Chinlund) are a pair of brothers who grew up in Harlem under circumstances that were difficult at best. Their mother Doreen (Cathy Moriarty) was a diabetic with a drinking problem and difficulty in saying no to men. While she wasn't a sex worker, she grew dependent on the little gifts her lovers would bring by, and as kids, Mick and Lex learned to accept this as the way things were. One night, Mick and Lex were taking a walk in the park when they were accosted by a cop who molested the younger Mick. Lex, older and strong as a grown man, attacked the cop, which led to a stay in a reform school. Years later, Mick is himself a policeman; while he's tried to bury the childhood incident in his past, he still shows emotional scars and is sexually dysfunctional. Lex has taken the more dramatic slide, getting in and out of trouble since reform school and maintaining a going-nowhere job driving a bus. He has a combative relationship with Debbie (Rosie Perez), girlfriend and the mother of his child, while also selling drugs for local dealer Lefty Louie (John Leguizamo). His own habit has developed so far that his sales don't compensate for the amount he uses himself. Mick tries to look out for his big brother, but it might be too late to save him.

Cast

Reception

The film has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. [3] Roger Ebert gave the film three stars. [4] John Petrakis of the Chicago Tribune also gave it three stars. [5] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly graded it a B−. [6]

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References

  1. ↑ Klady, Leonard (3 August 1997). "Review: 'A Brother's Kiss'". Variety . Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Holden, Stephen (25 April 1997). "A Rough Life in Harlem Made Rougher in Central Park". The New York Times . Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  3. ↑ "A Brother's Kiss". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  4. ↑ Ebert, Roger (10 October 1997). "A BROTHER'S KISS". RogerEbert.com . Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  5. ↑ Petrakis, John (10 October 1997). "Plot, Acting Make 'Brother's Kiss' A Standout". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  6. ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (9 May 1997). "A Brother's Kiss". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 27 August 2017.


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