Film Review: My Brother's Keeper
If you are reading this review on the Sabbath, then I would like to wish you complete peace, in the Lord. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
This week’s film review is for the film, My Brother's Keeper, written by Ty Manns.
Description
A returning war veteran has one more battle to fight: PTSD. The U.S. and its allies have been waging war against terror for over 12 years and SFC Travis Fox and his best friend SFC Ron "Preach" Pearcy are in their sixth combat deployment when the unthinkable happens: Preach and his entire Ranger platoon are killed in a deadly IED attack. Devastated, Travis returns to his hometown. His parents' house is empty now; both were killed in a tragic car accident three years earlier. He browses through pictures of his parents and his eyes fall on the handcrafted necklace he had made in Saudi Arabia, encircling his mother's neck. He searches his parents' belongings from the accident and the home, but fails to find the necklace. The next day, Travis starts his search for answers and discovers an unsuspecting obstacle: PTSD. During his journey he starts to rediscover his faith in God, but a devastating and painful secret hidden from him for years by his best friend Donnie threatens his renewed faith, restores his guilt, and causes him to consider ending his life.
The title reminds me of Genesis 4:9 - Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Instead of being his brother’s keeper, Cain murdered Abel. The question, Am I My Brother's Keeper?, is used as a thread throughout the film, to stress the importance of protecting one another, by supporting each other’s spiritual walk.
The film starts with a quote from Micah 7:8 - Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
This powerful verse reminds lets believers that we will not be defeated if we put our trust in the Lord’s strength. Temporary setbacks will still result in victory - for the Lord’s glory.
There is a scene where Travis refuses to pray for his friend, nicknamed, “Preach”, due to Travis’ lack of faith in the Lord. His lack of faith is a result of bad things happening in his life. Travis stopped casting his fears on the Lord and relied on his own strength, quickly realizing his own strength was not enough - which resulted in a downward spiral. Isaiah 41:10 and Psalm 55:22 are referenced by his local Pastor, for casting our fears onto the Lord.
Isaiah 41:10 - So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 55:22: Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 9:10 says, Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
The film has a lot of Bible references that focus on seeking the Lord, carrying one another’s burdens, faith in Jesus Christ and the power of God.
At some point, Jeremiah 29:11 was referenced. A wonderful reassurance that God has a plan for each and every person He created: 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
This film was so realistic that I found myself crying out, “No!” during one scene. What is wonderful is that the film was realistic without inappropriate scenes, even though it centered around war, gang fights and PTSD.
It’s a film that encourages us, through the word of God, to cast our fears to the Lord and hold onto our faith, through God’s Word, prayer and fellowship, in all seasons - because trials will come and the devil will try and tempt us with things in this world that can make us lose our focus on the Lord.
I like how the film brings up child baptism and implies we need to be able to understand what we are believing in, before we are baptized - so adult baptism is encouraged.
Would I change anything about the film?
There are scenes where the character, Preach, speaks to Travis, after Preach has died. The film doesn’t imply whether this is just Travis’ imagination or whether they are trying to say that dead people can come back and speak to living people. Either way, I wish they had done it differently, so that it was based on memories, in order to have the correct doctrine on the state of the dead. I have given the following references concerning the state of the dead in previous blogs and podcasts: Romans 2:6, 1 Corinthians 15:50-55, John 3:13, Psalm 13:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16, John 11:11-14, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Acts 2:29, 34, John 5:25, 1 John 4:12
Apart from that, I thought the film was really good and a must repeat.
2 Timothy 2:1 is referenced and is a good summary for the film: You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Thank you for reading this review. Until next time - peace be with you.
Film Source: Deep C Digital channel on YouTube.
Thumbnail: www.imdb.com
