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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Brothers

Brothers is a 2009 American psychological thriller war film directed by Jim Sheridan and written by David Benioff.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Brothers is a 2009 American psychological thriller war film directed by Jim Sheridan. It is a remake of the 2004 Danish film Brødre.

What it is

Brothers is an American remake of the Danish film Brødre, directed by Jim Sheridan and written by David Benioff. The film stars Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Natalie Portman, and follows a Marine presumed dead in Afghanistan, his brother, and the strain on the family when he returns home.

Key details

Released in 2009, the film draws inspiration from Homer’s Odyssey, as did the original. The main cast includes Tobey Maguire as Sam Cahill, Jake Gyllenhaal as Tommy Cahill, and Natalie Portman as Grace Cahill. The film explores themes of family strain, trauma, grief, loyalty, and the effects of war on returning soldiers.

Canadian connection

In Canada, the film screened under the English title Brothers, with the Quebec French title Frères. It circulated in Canadian theatres and home media.

In short

  • American remake of the 2004 Danish film Brødre
  • Directed by Jim Sheridan, written by David Benioff
  • Stars Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman
  • Explores trauma, grief, and family strain after war
Canadian angle

The film screened and circulated in Canada under the English title Brothers, and its Quebec French title is Frères.

Quick questions

What is Brothers about?
It follows a Marine presumed dead in Afghanistan, his brother who supports the family, and the conflict that develops when he returns home.
Who directed Brothers?
Jim Sheridan directed the film.
Is Brothers a remake?
Yes. It is an American remake of the 2004 Danish film Brothers (Brødre).

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brothers_(2009_film)
    Supports: Year, director, writer, genre, remake status, and plot overview.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1213999-brothers
    Supports: Synopsis, cast, genre, runtime, and release details.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765010/
    Supports: Plot summary, cast, and remake relationship to the Danish film.
  4. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brothers_(film,_2009)
    Supports: Quebec French title and release information.
  5. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/70114495
    Supports: Short synopsis and cast listing.