Director: Karen Wookey
Pendulum Media Production. 1993.
Length: 30 minutes
Audience: Junior High, High School, Teachers, Parents, Organizations
Topics: culture of violence

Brother of Mine is an engaging and absorbing examination of the culture of violence. Hosted by Pat Mastroianni, formerly of the popular TV show Degrassi High, this documentary looks at violence in kids lives on the playground, in sports, in schools, in the home and on the street. The kids who talk vary in age and experience. Some are juvenile offenders, some are victims of school violence. Abuse, racism and sexism are presented as perversions of power. Kids hear from other kids (and adults too) about how our culture has normalized violence, and about the media's role in this state of affairs. Finally, Brother of Mine presents some possible solutions that are being tried. The video's narration is colloquial and direct and it invites viewers to see that they too are at risk, and that they too must become involved in making changes. A useful resource, especially in social studies and media studies, for sparking discussion on an important topic.

Unfortunately, this video is currently out of stock. However, Canadian teachers might want to check their school video libraries, or board multimedia centres, to see if any copies are available.