The new documentary Blood Brother tells the story of Rocky Braat, a successful graphic designer who quit his job and journeyed to India in a quest for “authenticity.” When he stumbled upon a home for children who are HIV-positive, his life was transformed. Braat, who dedicated his life to helping the orphans, isn’t your typical saviour; in fact, as he confesses, “I didn’t even like children.”
After winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, as well as the Audience Award at Toronto’s Hot Docs Film Festival, the film begins a week-long run at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto.
Blood Brother was made by Braat’s best friend, filmmaker Steven Hoover. During an interview with Daily Xtra at this year’s Hot Docs, Hoover explained that all the proceeds from the film are being donated “because we wanted to help Rocky and to keep it going, and we saw the good that he was doing . . . We are going to build a half-way house for the kids who have to leave the home so they can better transition into the society.”
Blood Brother screens at Toronto’s Bloor Cinema Dec 13–22.
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