My Brother Tom

One of the most moving and hard hitting films I have seen in a long while. It deals with issues very rarely brought to the film going audience. The topic of abuse is the thread that holds the screen play together, and it is an issue that is used without it being sugar coated for the audience. At times I felt that I should not be watching; I felt that I was trespassing on something private and unseen.

Though the camera work is shaky and the film so dark as to seem almost black and white this adds and I believe does not detract from the overall message.

'My Brother Tom' is neither enjoyable or entertaining to watch. Rotheroe does the same as Tim Roth does in 'The War Zone'; he broaches issues that deserve a representation in celluloid. I recommend strongly that you see this film but do not expect an easy movie experience, instead expect to shocked by realities that you would rather less confront.

I really loved this film! I was watching it from about 12:40 midnight and I was falling asleep, but i had to watch it to the end. It highlights really well the reasons why some people seem crazy and shows how we should look for reasons rather than just scorn or punish people. Raw, but tender passionate, painful, blissful. It had all of these and really captured the mental instability of both characters through brilliant filming.

The acting was superb. Ben Whislaw was excellent as Tom, really getting underneath the skin of the character, and Jenna Harrison also gave an excellent debut performance, making the story so real and so passionate. Well done!

An incredibly compelling film which had me glued from start to finish. As someone personally affected by the abuse issues raised I felt so much empathy for the characters who were portrayed fantastically by the young actors. Uncomfortable viewing at times, particularly for those with such experiences in there past, but essential non the less. The harsh reality of adults, especially those in powerful positions, reluctance to see what is going on around them is shown brilliantly. Yes it shows a dank view of the world, but talk to 10 young people in your life and its almost guaranteed that at least 5 of them would have experienced similar acts, with no one to turn to.

A film were you need to look beyond such aesthetics as SFX or high budget locations and accept that this stuff really does happen everyday!!!!!!

My Brother Tom is about a subject that is, sadly enough, quite well known in my country. As you may know, we had a case of child abuse that was so gruesome that it has probably been covered by the news all over the world. Since Dutroux has been put in jail for the rest of his life, people gradually seem to be able to cope with the subject again. I guess that the fact that this movie was actually shown on television is a good example of that.

If you read the title of this movie, you might think that it is about a kid who's brother Tom is the victim of child abuse. That's not entirely true. In fact it is about two victims, a girl and a boy, who have found each other in their misery and try to deal with it together. Even though they aren't relatives, they call themselves twins. That's where the title comes from.

My Brother Tom is probably not the best movie for parents of young children who are easily worried. I guess they might get frightened by the idea that this could happen to their own children. However, you could also see it as a very good educational movie. Anyway, I must say that I liked it. The acting and the story are very convincing and are brought to you in a very good way. It shows very well how devastating this abuse is and what it can lead to in the end. I reward it with a 7.5/10

A fascinating and disturbing study of two damaged teenagers who find solace in each other's company.

This is what film is all about. The use of hand-held DV - the unselfconscious performances of the two leads - the harsh portrayal of the selfish acts of cruelty perpetrated by unthinking adults on vulnerable, impressionable children. I love this film, but I could barely watch it at times.

The two leads reminded me of a young Joanne Whalley (Jenna Harrison should go far if there's any justice in the film industry) and a seriously unhinged Lee Evans without any of the comedy - just his style of manic lashing out.

Spoiled on its UK TV airing by the booming Channel 4 Big Brother voice ruining the mood over the credits. Channel 4 seems happy to destroy the end of its own movies. Sad.

8 out of 10. At least. Should be shown in schools.