Brother’s Keeper

Composite Score: 86.43

Featuring: Delbert Ward, Roscoe Ward, Lyman Ward, Walt Geisler, Joseph F. Loszynski, Ralph A. Cognetti, Ken Elmer, and Donald F. Cerio

Directors: Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky

Genres: Documentary, Crime, Mystery

MPAA Rating: R for violence

Box Office: $1.31 million worldwide

My take on Watching This Film:

                Brother’s Keeper is the 1992 documentary by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky about the trial of Delbert Ward, a man from rural New York accused of murdering his brother while he slept in order to relieve his chronic pain. The film follows the case primarily through the eyes of Delbert and his surviving brothers Roscoe and Lyman, all of whom maintain Delbert’s innocence, along with the citizens of their small town of Munnsville, defying the beliefs of the state police and county District Attorney. The film is shot in a similar style to Grey Gardens, taking in the harsh realities of its subjects without ever offering any judgment on them or their circumstances. It has been widely acclaimed for its criticism of the mistreatment of the Ward brothers by the state police and investigators, who coerced the men into incriminating Delbert, and for its honest but celebratory portrayal of the banding together of this small town in support of one of their own.

                I will say that I had a different perspective on the film going in. Having no prior knowledge of the case, I believed that the film was going to focus more on the morality of William’s death, treating the conviction as more of a foregone conclusion while engaging more deeply with the question of was Delbert right to kill his brother to relieve his pain. This was not the case, so it took a bit of readjusting before I got back into it, but once I had bought into what the film actually is, I found that it is a thoroughly satisfying and moving look at the flaws of our legal and media systems that also celebrates the importance of community, regardless of one’s socioeconomic situation. Certain aspects of the film come across as a bit more ambiguous than some true crime fans might prefer, but the goal of the filmmakers was not to present an unbiased view of the case, rather to showcase the character of the accused and his community of support.

                Brother’s Keeper is a strong, if at times familiar, documentary that showcases the triumph of community and family over corruption and prejudice through the story of a single family’s struggle, which earns it a spot among the greats. It probably won’t be for every fan of a true crime documentary or those looking to dive deeper into the ethics of euthanasia, but those looking for a uniquely situated look at life will find what they are searching for here. Currently, you can rent this film on most streaming platforms if you’re looking to check it out.