Brother's Keeper

Aroview: An outstanding piece of criminal reportage, that takes a case of hillbilly crime and punishment from backwoods New York State and over the course of a year of trials, hearings and investigations raises a host of mysteries to rival any piece of fiction.

The four Ward brothers (aged 59-70) – slothful, seemingly retarded - have lived together in subhuman squalor for decades as marginal farmers of the town of Munnsville, when one is found to have died mysteriously in his sleep. Immediately a brother is arrested for murder, but whether this is a case of accidental death, euthanasia or fratricide becomes more uncertain as the spotlight of the US national media is turned on the story.

NZ International Film Festival 1992

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