Brothers of the Night

Brothers of the Night is an engrossing 2016 movie that is difficult to slot into any specific genre. The film is a calculated convergence of various facets of storytelling - a blend of raw documentary and fiction, with elements of noir thrown in. It was directed by Patric Chiha, who adopts a unique approach in depicting the lives of the young Bulgarian Roma protagonists, Stefan, Yonko, and Asen.

The film is set in the city of Vienna, embodying a grim and atmospheric hue that projects a sense of fear and trepidation, enveloped in a canvas of mystery. Amidst this canvas, the saga of three young Bulgarian boys unfolds, as they navigate their way through the nocturnal world of the city, laying bare the underbelly of society that often remains hidden from the public gaze.

Stefan, Yonko, and Asen play the role of immigrants, making ends meet by selling themselves in the city's male prostitution ring, aptly referred to as 'machos'. The boys are Roma, an ethnic group found throughout Europe, often subjected to prejudice and social ostracism. The depiction offers an unflinching view of immigration, marginalization, and the challenges of assimilation, as the boys' attempts to coexist with mainstream society oscillate between fruitful efforts and crushing failures.

Yet, despite the dark undertones, Brothers of the Night does not present itself as a tragic story of the unjust society, or as a tale centered solely around victimhood. Instead, Chiha's signature style invites viewers on a journey, allowing them to experience the gritty reality of the protagonists' lives, their dreams, ambitions, and their constant quest for dignity and identity.

The young men's lives are laid bare through insightful conversations they share-anecdotes about their families, their journey from their homeland, and their experiences in Vienna. They speak of their ambitions, dreams, and fears, providing a window into the lives of a largely misunderstood and stereotyped section of society.

Chiha succeeds in providing a rounded portrayal of the protagonists, showing us their vulnerabilities, their comradeship, and their resilience in the face of strife. The film captures elegiac moments amidst grisly realities, weaving a dreamy descant into stark nocturnal cityscapes.

To add another unique element to this raw, real story, Chiha ingeniously introduces noir elements into the documentary. The disorienting world of the Viennese nights is portrayed with an almost dreamlike quality, reminiscent of classic noir films. The director's own description of the movie as a 'dark fairy tale' accurately captures the enigmatic, haunting atmosphere the film manages to create, and it allows viewers to grasp the intricacies of the gritty realities and heartfelt aspirations of its main characters.

Combined with the film's unusual narrative structure, these elements enhance the strength of the film. Chiha takes documentary storytelling to an unconventional plane by merging it with aspects of the noir genre and the narrative style of a feature film.

The director's decision to cast non-professional actors further intensifies the sincere, authentic portrayal of Brothers of the Night. Using people who are essentially living the reality depicted in the film provides an unfiltered exploration of the lives of immigrant male prostitutes in Vienna. This choice is in line with the director's commitment to bringing out the stories that hover on societal peripheries, something that he successfully achieves in this film.

Brothers of the Night is therefore a film whose value extends beyond its visual and stylistic novelty. It is an exploration of the human experience from a vantage seldom ventured in cinema – a tale of male prostitutes that rewire the conventions of societal norms and expectations. Deeply threaded within the film's narrative and visual structure is a social and cultural commentary on immigration, survival, fraternity, and identity.

In summary, Brothers of the Night is an intelligent convergence of documentary realism, narrative fiction, and vintage noir, presenting a tale of lives lived on the fringes, and the dreams fostered amid grim realities. The richly layered storytelling, innovative stylistic approach, and the engrossing performances by the non-professional actors make this a film not to be missed for enthusiasts of unique, boundary-pushing cinema.