Brotherhood

A real-life tragic accident turned movie explores themes of masculinity and character among young men

- Richard Bell

Brotherhood is a new film written and directed by Richard Bell—based on a harrowing true story and forgotten piece of Canadian history.

It is 1926. A group of teenaged boys arrive at Long Point Camp on sprawling Balsam Lake in Ontario for the ultimate Canadian summer experience: two weeks of games, sports and adventure. The unofficial leader of this band of brothers, George Waller, has fled a tumultuous family life and lands at the camp feeling angry and raw. Waller meets Arthur, a new camp leader who’s progressive and amenable, and is reunited with Robert, the camp’s patriarch, stoic and orderly. Robert sees the path to educating and nurturing boys with tactics from the past, while Arthur sees the promise of the future.

Arthur and Robert set o‰ across the lake in a 30 foot Indian war canoe with Waller and ten of his companions. When they encounter a freak summer storm and are capsized in the middle of the churning lake, the brotherhood’s holiday descends into a soul-shuddering fight for survival.

Will Waller and Arthur and the remaining crew survive the night? Can Waller rally his brothers to hang on until sunrise, and inspire them to live and die for each other? Will they discover what real camaraderie and true brotherhood is all about? Brotherhood will be released in November by levelFILM.