Brothers of the Wind (2015) User Reviews

Breathtaking images, superfluous "story"

[IndustriousAngel · 7/10 · 4 February 2016]

There are quite a few kid/animal stories out there; what sets this one apart is the incredibly good cinematography. We're not talking wolves, dogs or whatever here, we're talking golden eagles and they're not easy to film - so what we DO see on screen here is absolutely stunning (and I'm a fan of nature docs). They even managed to mount miniaturised HD cameras on an eagle to capture some flight imagery ... there are some truly memorable scenes in this movie, among them a very intense, drawn-out scene where the young eagle tries his talons at a mountain-goat maybe one or two sizes too big for him. The winter scenes are haunting in their intensity, too.

But the movie as a whole gets only 7/10 from me - they tried to pep up the images with a story about a boy helping the young eagle to survive. Now I don't think the idea absurd - in fact a simple framing story might be a nice idea - but they put too much weigth on this story. The emotional struggles between father and son simply don't stand a chance against the for-life struggle of the animals, and so every scene we spend with the humans is - in my opinion - a scene wasted. No fault with the actors, btw - experienced acting as expected by veterans Moretti and Reno, and the boy was good, too - but it's not their movie. It's the eagle's.

The images of the wildlife are breathtaking!

[Vikingbyheart · 6/10 · 22 September 2016]

Cinema has good films that tell a story between man and animal. Among them we can mention: Born Free (1966), Brother of the Wind (1973), The Black Stallion (1979), L'ours - The Bear (1988), Cheetah (1989), Fly Away Home (1996), Duma (2005), Eight Below (2006), Le Renard et L'infant - The Fox & The Child (2007), Life of Pi (2012) and The Jungle Book (2016). In Wie Brüder im Wind (original title) or Brothers of the Wind (English title), the story revolves around a child and a bird of prey, in 1960, in some place of the Austrian alps. In nature the eagle creates two chicks, and the strongest always ends up throwing the weakest out of the nest. Thus, after being pushed by the older chick out of the nest and fall to the forest floor, which would be a death sentence for the youngest chick, he is rescued by Lukas (acted by Manuel Camacho), which takes care of the wild animal in secret. With relationship problems with his father Keller (played by Tobias Moretti, known for Das Finstere Tal - The Dark Valley - 2014), the boy finds love and companionship in the bird, named Abel. But when the time comes to release the eagle back to nature will Abel be able to reintegrate himself to the wildlife and will Lukas find his own release for a new life?

The story is narrated by Jean Reno (known for Léon - The Professional - 1994), who plays the character Danzer, a forester who lives on site. The film is directed by Gerardo Olivares and Otmar Penker in a semi-documentary style. Its major highlights are photography, soundtrack and sound mixing. The images of the wildlife are breathtaking, especially the scenes made ​​with the eagle. The camera angles, including the mini camera installed on the eagle, enable the vision of all the landscape of the Austrian Alps, which is to behold. In that Brothers of the Wind does not lack anything when compared to the best documentaries about nature. The sound mixing gives realism to the narrated story, immersing the viewer in the animal life.

The weak point of the film that ends up compromising the movie's final result is the script. It focuses too much on the melodrama of the boy 's relationship with his father. While the scenes of wildlife are natural, family sequences are all artificial and forced. The writers trio (Otmar Penker, Joanne Reay and Gerald Salmina) errs in trying to turn the eagle struggle to survive into something bigger, making a link in Lukas and Abel's story. The directors and writers should have focused only on the nature and eagle majesty, who is the great protagonist of the narrated story.

brothers of the wind a European masterpiece

[playtoyer · 8/10 · 5 February 2016]

Brothers of the wind is a great movie.All the scenes with the Eagle are great.The director did a great work with all the animal scenes.this movie is one of the best animal movies.A eagle who protects and becomes friends with a boy. The eagle is the hero, and a creature to be admired and respected, not only for his size and strength, but for his courage with the eagle you gain a greater appreciation of this creature within its natural habitat the Eagle is as the magnificent and intelligent creature. This movie is a cinematic gem, deserves much wider recognition not only in europe, and unlike a lot of Hollywood movies, this is a thoughtful as well as entertaining adventure movie.The boy is great in the movie.Jean reno is great in this movie.jean reno is a great actor.

Once upon a time in the wild Alps valley.

[Reno-Rangan · 7/10 · 4 July 2016]

It was almost like a fairy tale, about the relationship between a young boy and a bird. From Austria, but made in English language with the limited cast and a semi-documentary style film. It is a very similar theme to the French film 'The Fox & the Child', but sets in a different scenario. Get prepared to witness the stunning Austrian Alps valley with a story of where man meets the wild. A fine entertaining film, as well as to study the behaviour of this magnificent bird that targeted for the audiences of all ages.

A simple story that sets in one summer of the 60s, that narrated by Jean Reno, who appeared as a forester. He recalls the story of a boy named Lukas, who developed an unusual bond with an eagle since it was a chick that fell from its nest. The boy named the bird Abel and stood by his side providing all needs like foods and training, till he become an adult. As a wild animal, his instinct urge him to act differently and so the Luka's love and care for Abel will gets difficult by every day. As the seasons change, time to define their actual relationship and that's what the film beautifully narrated.

It was mostly the background narration like an episode telecasted in a nature channel than the film characters that delivers the lines, but overall the film was dominated by an awesome background score. The sound mixing was really great, along with the breathtaking photography, especially all the segment with the bird, landscapes and other animals. The camera angles were absolutely superb and the film unfolds some of the things that we haven't seen in the documentaries like the topics of conservation, poaching and other human activities, especially the take of wild Apls in the different seasons.

"To learn takes courage. And to teach, patience of a mother."

The boy was terrific, and so those shots with the animals, especially Abel in the different stages of his life. A great effort put by the crew to make such an incredible film in the unfriendly locations, mainly the animal trainers and the proper guidance from the wild/nature experts. One of the jaw-dropping scene was the face-off between the bird and the ibex. I don't know how it was done or taken an unused clip from nature film, but its addition brought the phenomenal effect to the film. Not all the sequences were lively captured, there are some CGI works too, but very well done that blends accurately.

Besides the boy's friendship with the bird was like any kid who love to have one. So envious. In other side, his conflict with his father is what pushed him to get nearer to the Abel. Somewhat it relates, both, Abel and Lukas are in a same situation in their respective lives and tells how they together fight to break free from it. In the end it very clearly differentiates where everyone belong and their role in the mother nature.

The story is not what you're going love, but the way it was narrated, mainly the technical brilliance makes us fall in love with it. A coming-of-age film, definitely a very rare kind with a quality narration. Medium pace, but very intense and surely can beat Disney nature films. For children, it is a must see, but for adults, it is not necessarily a must see and if you think that way, you are missing out some masterpiece of the nature's video portrait. You don't have to adore it or go after the flaws, just relax and enjoy it, that's it works.

7/10

Watch it for its breathtaking cinematography

[nagsaptarshi · 7/10 · 7 May 2020]

This movie should be shown to every learner of movie making just for its brilliant camera use. This is a slow paced, documentary styled movie about the bonding between a young boy and an eagle. Simultaneously it tells other stories, too. However, from cinematic point of view, this is not a great movie and it does not even intend to do so. Its rather a sincere tale of human-wildlife bonding with a strong message in the end. The use of camera as I have already mentioned is breathtaking. The wide angle shots at the Alps are mesmerizing. Overall a nice movie to enjoy with your kids. Such movies normally become emotional tearjerkers which this one cleverly avoids. Overall a sincere movie deserving 75% marks. I

Thought-provoking and wonderful film about a boy and his eagle, set in gorgeous landscapes and in documentary style

[ma-cortes · 8/10 · 14 January 2020]

This Austria/Spain co-production film is set in the Sixties, Austrian Alps, a marvelous place to dream, dealing with the unusual bond between a teen and an eagle since it was a chick . At the mountains lives Lukas : Manuel Camacho, who is mistreated by his father : Tobias Moretti, but he has a strong relationship with a forester, the great and popular actor Jean Reno. In a world where it takes courage to fly, an aegle is thrown the nest out by its oldest brother, called Cain, falling on the ground. One day, Lukas meets the wounded eagle and heals it. As Lukas nurtures the baby eagle, - that he names Abel- from childhood to adulthood and both have an emotional connection . As days go by, he realizes about the eagle wants to fly on its own. Both of them bond about their desires to be free. Along the way Lukas learns about nature.

This is a charming film containing adventure, emotion, sense of wonder, great sensibility and wonderful outdoors. A provoking and interesting movie, it is both, semi-documentary and drama, including colourful, beautiful, glimmer scenarios . There is an enjoyable portrayal of a young boy intenting to make his own way and only accompanied by an eagle in wilderness. Furthermore, it provides an intense and thunderous drama between a daddy and his son, but at the end both of whom learn about the mutual feeling and pardon . Narrated by Jean Reno who also plays a Forest Ranger, the film has an exceptional camerawork, 17 real eagles were used, and utilizing a titanium camera over an eagle that has been subsequently copied by other photographers . Being a hard and very complicated shooting for 4 years in the Dolomits mountains and other locations. The short cast, Manuel Campuzano, Tobias Moretti , Jean Reno, keep the movie interesting and attractive. Children especially and adults can learn lessons of ecology , wildlife, self-reliance, freedom and interdependence from the movie. In addition, to enjoy drama, adventure, emotion and overwhelming outdoors.

It displays a phantastic and gorgeous cinematography by Oscar Duran and Otmar Penker. Shot on location in Dolomitas Alps, Austrian Tirol, National Park Hohe Tauern, Corinthia, Austria, Tirol, Italy, Passo di Falzarego, Belluto, Beneto, Italy. As well as a sensitive and rousing musical score from Rebecca Ferguson, Jared Rogers , Kingdom Creators and Sarah Class. The motion picture was well directed by Otmar Penker and Gerardo Olivares . It was winner Austria Romy Gala Award to best cinematography : Otmar Penker and Oscar Duran. Otmar Penker is a good Austrian documentalist who also produced and wrote the superflous script based on an original idea by Gerald Salmina. While Gerardo Olivares is an excellent filmmaker who has collaborated with TVE, National Geographic and Discovery Channel. Since 2006 Olivares changes documentaries for fiction movies and he will be well known for La gran Final 2006, 14 kilometros 2007 , Entre Lobos 2010 starred by Manuel Camacho , The Lighthouse of the whales 2015 and 4 Latas 2017 performed by Jean Reno. In his life he has been in more than 100 countries and shot over than 80 documentaries. All this has been collected in his documentaries sold all over the world for the most important television channels. The picture will appeal to lovers of nature and animals . Well worth watching for its ecological message and msrvellous wildlife.

an amazing movie the eagles are simply great

[grantkenny-13794 · 8/10 · 29 June 2017]

One of the most amazing movie made about eagles the scale of the film is amazing.The main priority of the director is the eagles.The complex characters of the eagles.One of the main themes of the movie is ecological.brothers of the wind is a wonderful movie.jean reno is also in the movie.he is good in this movie sober acting he is also the narrator of the story.

Flying high

[Alenbalz · 8/10 · 26 July 2016]

Fantastic movie about a boy and a bird (the feathered kind: an eagle), which contrasts the relationship of boy and dad. Just amazing what one can do with 3 actors, and a couple of birds, interspersed with some breathtaking scenery of the Austrian alps, in winter, spring and summer, and excellent photography (that would rival anything David Attenborogh did). Both boy and bird are struggling to cope with their surroundings and survive. The boy saves (and rears) the bird when it falls (or more likely is kicked) out of it's nest, then has to cope with the reality of having to let it go free. The heart warming boy/animal relationship, is contrasted by the boy father tension, and we are carried through the storyline with an absorbing narration by Jean Reno. A refreshing change from the typical Hollywood movies of sex, violence, car chases and explosions.

Perfect

[enders-joshua · 10/10 · 20 June 2020]

Blown away by the scenes in the wild! Awesome movie.

Stunning movie!

[jimgal-28923 · 8/10 · 12 January 2020]

A beautiful coming of age nature film. The cinematography is superb, as is the acting.Take a few hours out of your day and emmerse yourself in this wonderous film.

Stunning cinematography makes this film a memorable viewing experience

[KobusAdAstra · 8/10 · 28 September 2017]

I have seen quite a few films dealing with the interaction between wildlife and man in the natural environment, and then I am not talking about wildlife documentaries, which seem to get better and better as new photographic techniques are developed. The classic 'Born Free' of 1966, and another film with African background, 'Duma' of 2005 come to mind. And then there is the excellent 'Entrelobos' ('Among Wolves') of 2011. Last night I watched another film in this genre, 'Wie Brüder im Wind' ('Brothers of the Wind'), and found that it compares well with others in this genre.

High in the spectacular Hohe Tauern part of the Austrian Alps, we see how a pair of golden eagles rears two chicks on a narrow rocky ledge, and as is typical with large birds of prey, the stronger of the two chicks forces the weaker one from the nest. The chance that the weaker chick would survive is rather slim, but it is in luck. Fortunately it has not fallen to its death; vegetation cushioned its fall and the bird landed safely on the ground at the foot of the cliff below the nest. Furthermore, shortly thereafter a boy, Lukas, (Manuel Camacho) finds the young bird before predators could get hold of it, and decides to rear it.

Through the narrator, a forester called Danzer (Jean Reno), we get to know Lukas, who lives high in the mountains with his father (Tobias Moretti). Quite early on it becomes clear that the relationship between Lukas and his father is strained; the lad does not speak to his dad, and more often than not hides away in a derelict house, where he lives in his own world. A sympathetic Danzer decides to help the boy and gives advice on how to rear the young raptor.

Can you build a film on such a slim narrative with only three main human characters? Well, after watching the movie, it is clear that you can successfully do so. The main emphasis of the film is on the life of the golden eagle, who against the odds and setbacks survives and grows into adulthood. The growing up of the eagle becomes a metaphor of the coming of age of Lukas, who also has obstacles to overcome.

The strong point of this film is without doubt the astonishing cinematography. The wildlife photography, particularly the action shots and the lingering landscape footage are literally breathtaking. The soundtrack is great too. The actors all do a fine job. Special mention must be made of Manuel Camacho, who seems to have a knack for excelling in wildlife films. He was justly nominated for a Goya Award, and won the Spanish Actors Newcomer Award for his acting in 'Entrelobos'.

I score this lovely film a high 8/10.

Nature rocks

[zutigad · 9/10 · 5 July 2016]

Great movie with beautiful animals and birds, there are few but very good actors. The bond between boy and eagle is very touching. I think this is great movie for entire family. It teaches us how our kindness and love for animals can help and save them, animals give us equal love back. Many people can learn from that. Jean Reno has nice voice that carry us throw this amazing adventure of the boy and great bird. I would like to say that nature is portrayed like humans bad attitude. When we have big snow storm we can also see boys father bad temper. Eagle as a baby bird and finally as a adult who is great prince of the wind.

Spectacular

[StanleyDWilliamsPhD · 10/10 · 21 January 2021]

Read KobusAdAstra's good review. It's accurate. This film is a dramatic narrative from an original script. It's not a contrived nature film. The cinematography is breathtaking. The acting good, the gold eagles amazing.

A magical, beautiful film.

[glyn-87177 · 9/10 · 22 June 2016]

So... superfluous story courtesy of IndustriousAnegel. I truly hope you don't have children and if you do I don't know whether to feel most sorry for them or for you. This was a magical, beautiful film crafted between both the animal and the human element and blended into an unforgettable experience. The director also deserves praise for how the two elements are presented to the viewer. Anyone who has ever kept a caterpillar in a matchbox will relate to this film and for me it invoked many more long lost memories of my child hood. Try reviewing Mad Max next because I think this is more "up your street". Maybe the scenery was the overall winner but who cares when the story grips you like a vice in the wilderness.

Ban Steel Jaw Traps

[untilnow99 · 9/10 · 27 August 2020]

Spoiler alert: Don't read my review until you've seen the movie.

My housemate was giving this film high praise and, as per usual, started to tell me the entire story. No matter how many times I say, "Don't tell me, just let me watch it," he can't help himself.

Thus, I decided to watch "Brothers of the Wind" right away, before Mr. Blabbermouth could ruin it all for me.

First impression: Kinda hokey. Done before. Slow. Nice scenery.

But my heart was soon captured by the sublime cinematography and magnificent staging of the scenes. My wonder at "How the HELL did they get the Eagles to do THAT?" kept me glued to the screen. Phenomenal scene after phenomeanal scene. Some real jaw-droppers.

A s--t ton of admiration for whomever it was who trained those Eagles. Amazing, the things those birds did.

The estranged father and son with elderly compassionate mediator storyline/plot is a bit ho-hum. Been-done-already type thing and fairly predictable.

What happens with the Eagles is not even mildly predicatable and gets your blood running both hot and cold. Without even realizing it, you suddenly find yourself completely engrossed and hanging off the edge of your seat. What's gonna happen next?!? (Although there are still some fairly predicatable things that do occur.)

As other reviewers have said, the Eagles really steal the show. The human portrayals are well-acted, although I could have done with a few less close ups of "Lukas" looking skyward with his pouty lips parted in wonder . . .

I hope the film gets the message across to viewers that 1) Steel Jaw Traps are abominable and need to be banned worldwide and 2) Golden Eagles are wonderful birds and should be protected and cherished.

Here in the USA Bald eagles are thriving, but the Goldens are in a bit of trouble. Habitat loss and other problems.

I hope humans will always fight to help threatened and endangered species. One of the best things you yourself can do is to STOP AT TWO. If you must have children, then please please have the good sense not to contribute more than two to the world population. That act alone can help the planet more than you know. Oh----and don't hunt or otherwise torment animals. Don't support hunters, especially trophy hunters . . . scum of the Earth.

Definition of perfect

[lbournelos · 10/10 · 6 November 2021]

A wonderful film in every respect.

A mind peace medicine.

Especially, if you have children, put them under your arms and watch this masterpiece with them.

Thanks to everyone involved with this.

Gorgeous

[cudax · 8/10 · 27 August 2023]

This movie is, cinematically speaking, positively gorgeous. It must have provided unique challenges to the film crews, including getting literally thousands of pounds of equipment up into the very challenging terrain of the Austrian Alps.

The in-flight sequences of the Golden eagles was breath-taking. I think that Manuel Camacho was a perfect choice for the youth boy who nursed the injured young eagle back to health.

Gene Reno seems like the perfect choice for the role of "mountain caretaker" as well as providing the narrative. While I was living in Kings Beach at Lake Tahoe, I had the rare privilege of having seen and also getting within just a few feet away from one of only two nesting pairs of Golden Eagles at that time. I believe that there are as many as four nesting pairs now, according to my recent research. Although I am not opposed to hunting for food, I am very much in favor of legislation to prevent the use of steel jawed traps, regardless of the circumstances. I was drawn to happy tears when the boy finally found the courage to let his "pet" eagle return to the wild where he belongs!