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Traveling India, American college graduate Rocky Braat met a group of HIV-positive orphans, an encounter that changed his life. BLOOD BROTHER is a tale of disease and abject poverty, of a life stripped down to its essence, and of love enduring in the face of death.
Director: Steve Hoover
Share this film. Consider hosting a screening and follow it up with a discussing the thoughts and feelings that were stirred.
Consider supporting Rocky Braat’s mission in particular by giving donating to his LIGHT organization, which helps fund the orphanage featured in the film.
Support Orphan’s Lifeline International that offers a wealth of possibilities to help orphans in India and across the globe.
Step out of your comfort zone at least once a day to expand your head and heart horizons. Start small, by taking a different way home or greeting a stranger on the street.
Donate to World’s Children, an organization that works with orphans in India, many of whom are living with HIV/AIDS.
“We wanted to see for ourselves and try to understand the love that Rocky had for these kids. We also wanted to do something apart from commercials and music videos. In many ways, it was an experiment.”
PBS interviewed filmmaker Steve Hoover, along with the film’s producer, Danny Yourd, to learn more about their own journey to make BLOOD BROTHER.
“There are two diseases that strike fear in most everyone; “cancer,” and “AIDS.” And that fear is completely rational and understandable. But in the matter of AIDS, what happens if that fear takes control of your life?”
Read more about this on About Health.
Steve Hoover addresses the accusations that BLOOD BROTHER is evangelic propaganda.
“New data released today (September 16, 2014) by the United Nations Organisation show that under-five mortality rates have dropped by 49 per cent between 1990 and 2013. There has been accelerated average annual reduction during this period but overall progress is still short of meeting the global target of two-thirds decrease in under-five mortality by 2015.”
“What is shocking is that many of the neonatal deaths can be easily prevented with simple, cost-effective interventions before, during and immediately after birth.”
Find out more about this here.
“The annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) was held in Boston, US from 3-6 March 2014. Every year CROI provides an opportunity for researchers from around the world to come together and share the latest developments in HIV research and development. Several interesting areas of research which were presented at this year’s conference.”
Find out more here.
“Some 30 HIV affected students, including 13 girls, studying between class 3 and 8 in Chitamur Panchayat Union Middle School have been forced to stay away from the school since September 2010.”
Read more here.
A BBC article about people of Indian origin born in the West who are moving to India.
“Nellie Thompson, my girlfriend and co-author, and I both lived in Mumbai as working professionals–she for six months and I for the better part of a year. Here we offer our own casual observations on what we, as Americans, found amusing, thought-provoking, and downright strange about life in India.”
Check out the list here.
"Hoover’s film plays out in so many rich, unexpected and resonant ways that the shift in worldview that both he and Rocky experience while helping to care for these kids is clearly evidenced."
The Hollywood Reporter
"A stirring documentary directed with narrative depth and unguarded heart"
The New York Times
"Gorgeously shot and deeply affecting"
Los Angeles Times
