My Brother Tom is about a subject that is, sadly enough, quite well known in my country. As you may know, we had a case of child abuse that was so gruesome that it has probably been covered by the news all over the world. Since Dutroux has been put in jail for the rest of his life, people gradually seem to be able to cope with the subject again. I guess that the fact that this movie was actually shown on television is a good example of that.If you read the title of this movie, you might think that it is about a kid who's brother Tom is the victim of child abuse. That's not entirely true. In fact it is about two victims, a girl and a boy, who have found each other in their misery and try to deal with it together. Even though they aren't relatives, they call themselves twins. That's where the title comes from.My Brother Tom is probably not the best movie for parents of young children who are easily worried. I guess they might get frightened by the idea that this could happen to their own children. However, you could also see it as a very good educational movie. Anyway, I must say that I liked it. The acting and the story are very convincing and are brought to you in a very good way. It shows very well how devastating this abuse is and what it can lead to in the end. I reward it with a 7.5/10

Films like this scare the s**t out of me. I thought it was all a bit seedy with the naked dancing in the woods, the tree filled with bible pages, the self harm and the forceful teacher. But when the dad opens his flies to his son you know there is something seriously disturbing about the film. Along with this there is the fact that Tom talks like a toddler and misses out necessary words in his sentences, and the fact he likes chucking himself from trees and falls over every few minutes just for the crack...as do all abused teenagers I'm sure.The makers of the film also only seem to know one scene transition, fade to bright light, which I'll admit is effective, but it's no Starwipe thats for sure.Aside from the aforementioned disturbing stuff I found the film to be fairly strong and almost uplifting in places to see two people who have had a crap time of things find a sort of happiness with each other, though this is shattered eventually. The funeral scene is also fairly strong and well done, however I find it hard to believe that a teenage girl could move a 6ft + coffin with a dead weight in it with such ease.A stellar performance from Monsieur hedgehog as well who awoke us all to the pitch cry of the pained hedgehog. It struck me that it would have been hilarious when Tom puts the hedgehog out of his misery if he'd of gone "Oh s**t he's stuck in my foot!" and hopped around for a while.Overall I give this film 6 out of 10 as it loses marks for being disturbing and for not having any automatic weaponry or busty women.In conclusion...stop falling in the lake...you'll catch cold...and fade to bright light.

very surprised, too, to read so many bad comments. this is, at the very least, the best british film i ve seen this year. very strong, very emotional, very black&white: if u don't like that, do not go. else: IT S A MUST. (ps: FANTASTIC phtography by robby mueller. yes, handheld camera, nevertheless: FANTASTIC)-funtoosh

Rarely do first time directors have the confidence to abandon superfluous dialogue and concentrate on the raw emotion of their story. Rotheroe is an exception. Not a frame is wasted as he explores the sexual trauma of two teenagers groping towards understanding in the magical woods.