Chloé Zhao is having a moment that cannot be denied. Earlier this year this rising star won both Best Director and Best Picture at the Academy Awards with her third feature film Nomadland. In just over a month, fans around the world will be greeted to her hotly-anticipated entry into the MCU, The Eternals. While we are just as hyped as anyone to see what Zhao can bring to this universe, we would like to take a moment to reflect on her debut film from 2015, Songs My Brothers Taught Me. Developed at the Sundance Institute workshop, this gentle and contemplative feature explores life on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. As with every film she has released to date, Zhao approaches the subject with a profound respect for the people of this community which allows her to tell their story in an uncompromising manner. While the majority of her accolades have come for her subsequent features, Songs My Brothers Taught Me stands as my personal favorite thus far.
The story concerns Lakota high school senior Johnny (John Reddy) and his relationship with his younger sister Jashaun (Jashaun St. John). The younger sibling looks to her brother as an anchor in an uncertain world made more so by their unstable mother (Irene Bedard), whose remorse for her failings as a mother can often be suffocating. She is the type of woman who tries to overcompensate by diving into religion and trying to foist the comfort she gleans from it on her older son who is serving time in prison. Johnny believes he is ready to bust free from reservation life, and he intends to make that happen by home-delivering booze for entrepreneur Bill (Allen Reddy). This is not only dangerous due to alcohol being prohibited by tribal law – it has been an epidemic for Native Americans for generations – but also due to some dangerous competition who is none-too-pleased to see him on their turf. When the siblings learn that their absent father died accidentally while drunk in a house fire, the siblings are affected in subtle ways.
While never less than transfixing, admittedly the action in this feature unfolds in gently rolling waves. Johnny is very reserved in the way he expresses himself to the world; the most important thread in his life arrives with the news that his girlfriend, Aurelia (Taysha Fuller), has been accepted into a college in Los Angeles and he decides to follow her there. While initially trying to keep this a secret, Jashaun happens to overhear this news which understandably sends her spinning a bit. With her main safety net possibly abandoning her to live with their unwell mother, Jashaun begins to seek out possible replacement figures. A detour with a one-of-a-kind tattoo/clothing designer Travis (Travis Lone Hill) leads her to appoint herself his assistant. She is good at math and reliable – two things he is not. While he ultimately may not be the mentor she needs, his love of the reservation is just one of the many ways Zhao shows the unique highs and lows of this culture.
While not a documentary, it is incredible to see how deftly Zhao captures the complex attachments one has to their home even when they believe they need to break away from it. One of the best scenes in the film comes when a genial high school teacher encourages his students to consider all of the options they have in life while gently encouraging them to tackle it with everything they have. This sounds cliche, but as executed here the notion is very subtle and quietly devastating as you listen to the limited aspirations many of them have for themselves. Zhao lets moments unfold with the stunning cinematography from Joshua James Richards, but never in a way that feels indulgent or alienating to a mainstream audience. The film is replete with moments of heartbreaking beauty, and even the sparse dialogue feels all the more impactful when something is stated by the quieter characters. Youth performances can be tricky, but our main performers are flawless in bringing these characters to life in the midst of an equally strong, naturalistic ensemble. Even with occasionally tough subject matter, the film radiates with love and joy in a way that leaves you hopeful and satisfied.
Video Quality
Songs My Brothers Taught Me debuts on Blu-Ray in an AVC encoded transfer in 1.78:1 courtesy of Kino Lorber featuring some stunning cinematography from Joshua James Richards. This presentation is quite stunning and offers a stable image quality throughout. The almost documentary feel of the film translates well aesthetically with most shots looking simply breathtaking. Zhao captures some awe-inspiring landscapes that really pop in high definition. Not only do the textural details render cleanly, but the lush greenery leaps off the screen and the sandy, dying landscapes really sell the story. There is no evidence of compression artifacts or other digital nuisances of the sort. Skin tones look natural throughout the runtime. I do not see how this set could have been improved visually on Blu-Ray. Fans who have been waiting for this one in high definition should not be let down.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with both a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 track that conjures a very specific mood that transports you to this area of the country. This is a very subdued film, but the track does come alive with the environmental sounds. The wonderful score is showcased beautifully here with a gently enveloping use of the surround speakers. The dialogue comes through crystal clear without ever being overpowered by the environmental effects or the score. The sound design is just as precisely executed as the on screen visuals with all of the sounds positioned just right in the mix. The environmental effects create a really nice soundscape of brisk wind and noises from the house gatherings. This is not an action-heavy film, so the activity in the low end is very sparse. This is a lovely sounding release that brings the movie to life in a really splendid way.
Special Features
- Bloopers: A four-minute collection of forgotten lines, joking around on set and excessive smiling. This is a delightful little piece.
- Deleted Scenes: Six scenes totaling nearly ten minus featuring additional moments between Johnny and Aurelia, Johnny and Angie, Travis discussing his tattoos, a scene at a funeral and more. There are some really nice moments here that are worth exploring.
- Interview with Director Chloe Zhao: A nearly twelve minute interview with Zhao which appears to have been conducted backstage at the Sundance Film Festival in which she discusses her connection to the material, balancing reality and fiction within the film, the process of casting the film, her initial entryway into filmmaking and more.
- Trailer: A two-minute trailer is provided for Songs My Brothers Taught Me.
Final Thoughts
Songs My Brothers Taught Me is a truly stunning piece of naturalistic art from one of the most promising filmmakers in the game right now. While there has been an artistry to all of her films so far, this one in particular connected with me more on an emotional level than any other. Kino Lorber has provided this one with a Blu-Ray featuring an incredible A/V presentation and a few interesting supplemental features. Fans of her pre-Marvel aesthetic will definitely want to check this one out as soon as possible. Highly Recommended
Songs My Brothers Taught Me will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital on October 5, 2021.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Lorber has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
