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This is a documentary that celebrates the courage and integrity of the American Soldier and the American military family. It is also a film about a man's love and respect for his two brothers and his dedication to telling their story. A great film that I am proud to be a part of.”
- Gary Sinise
(Actor, Filmmaker, Presidential Citizens Medal Recipient)
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BROTHERS AT WAR is an intimate portrait of an American family during a turbulent time.
Jake Rademacher sets out to understand the experience, sacrifice, and motivation of his two brothers serving in Iraq.
The film follows Jake's exploits as he risks everything—including his life—to tell his brothers' story. Often humorous, but sometimes downright lethal, BROTHERS AT WAR is a remarkable journey where Jake embeds with four combat units in Iraq.
Unprecedented access to US and Iraqi combat units take him behind the camouflage curtain with secret reconnaissance troops on the Syrian border, into sniper "hide sites" in the Sunni Triangle, through raging machine gun battles with the Iraqi Army.
Ultimately, the film follows his brothers home where separations and life-threatening work ripple through their parents, siblings, wives, and children.
BROTHERS AT WAR is a rare look at the bonds and service of our soldiers on the frontlines and the profound effects their service has on the loved ones they leave behind. For more information please visit -
Clips:
Brothers At War by Jake Rademacher (7 minute trailer)
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Director involves Gary Sinise with 'Brothers at War'
After director Jake Rademacher started showing people his documentary about U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq, one officer told him, "You have to show this movie to Gary Sinise."
Rademacher says his first reaction was something like, "Yeah, right." Getting hold of Sinise might not be that easy, he thought.
But the suggestion made sense. Sinise, a Highland Park native who stars in the CBS series "CSI: NY," has devoted a lot of time and energy to supporting veterans and active service members. He's been associated with soldiers ever since he played Lt. Dan in "Forrest Gump," and he has performed for the troops in Iraq.
Rademacher's film, "Brothers at War," seemed like the kind of project Sinise would get behind. In the film, Rademacher, an actor from Decatur who has two brothers in the Army, visits the frontlines in Iraq to find out more about the experiences of siblings.
As it turned out, Rademacher knew someone in Hollywood who knew Sinise. It wasn't all that hard to set up a lunch with Sinise, and then Sinise made some time to watch a rough cut of "Brothers at War" in a screening room at CBS.
"I was very, very moved by the film," Sinise says. "I started talking to Jake about what I could do to get this film released."
Sinise signed on as an executive producer for "Brothers at War," and now the film is scheduled to open March 13 at the AMC River East 21 in Chicago.
Sinise says he saw a side of the Iraq war in Rademacher's film that he rarely sees in other documentaries or press coverage: an honest portrait of soldiers and their families.
Whenever Sinise would visit the troops, he says, soldiers would ask him, "When is Hollywood going to make a film that supports us?"
To Sinise, "Brothers at War" is that film.
"Most people have no relation to anyone who's serving the country," he says. "Through this documentary, you can get to know a little more about the soldiers."
The debate over whether the U.S. should have invaded Iraq doesn't even come up during Rademacher's film.
"I wanted to move past this political ping-pong and jump right into what's going on in Iraq," he says.
To accomplish that, Rademacher jumped right into Iraq, getting close to some dangerous situations with both U.S. and Iraqi soldiers.
His film received an enthusiastic response from some local veterans and service members at a preview screening last week in Chicago.
"I didn't see a pro-war or an anti-war message in here," said Jim Nalepa, a West Point graduate who lives in Hinsdale. "I saw pro-soldier."
More background on the film from Jake Rademacher
Decatur man documents his brothers' war experiences in film
Find out how to host a local screening of Brothers At War
"Veterans’ groups, VA hospitals, churches, businesses, organizations and individuals can create a Task Force to purchase large amounts of tickets.
By mobilizing your own Task Force, you can ensure that the important messages in this film reach your own community. Your support will pay tribute to your local military service men and women and help others understand the universal struggles facing all veterans, whether returning from Iraq and Afghanistan or still affected by a past conflict.
Take charge now and make a lasting impact on the legacy of our nation’s warriors and their families by forming a Task Force (outlined below) to bring “Brothers At War” to your community."
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(Please forgive any ping duplication .. ;)