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Brotherhood (2022) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Brotherhood (2022) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 13 mins · Portuguese
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Directed by
Leonardo Kotz
Starring
Rafael Franskowiak, Lorenzo Hoffmann, João Thedy, Daniela de Paula Rosa

Joaquim awaits news about his brother’s premature birth, while he spends the night at his best friend’s house.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Every angle
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4 main characters · contains spoilers

Brotherhood Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Brotherhood (2022), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • André

    played by Rafael Franskowiak

    André is a nuanced character whose complex motivations are shaped by his past and his family's legacy. As a member of the police SWAT team, he grapples with his duty to uphold the law while facing the emotional turmoil of confronting his brother Akin. His character embodies the conflict between personal ties and professional obligations.

    • 👮 Law Enforcement
    • 🤔 Conflict
  • Akin

    played by Lorenzo Hoffmann

    Akin is a troubled character whose choices lead him down a dark path after surviving a trauma in his youth. His affiliation with the 'Ojuju Boys' showcases his struggle for belonging and survival. Akin's relationship with Wale highlights his internal conflict, as he seeks redemption while battling the consequences of his actions.

    • 🔫 Crime
    • 💔 Tragedy
  • Joaquim

    played by João Thedy

    Joaquim is a significant figure as a member of the Ojuju Boys, showing an unyielding loyalty to his gang. However, his decisions are pivotal in the unfolding events, marked by his ultimate betrayal. His character adds depth to the narrative, illustrating themes of trust and deception within criminal circles.

    • 👥 Betrayal
    • 🔦 Suspense
  • Goldie

    played by Daniela de Paula Rosa

    Goldie is a complex character whose love for Akin brings both passion and peril. As the only female member of the gang, she embodies strength and vulnerability. Her tragic fate underscores the high stakes of their criminal undertakings and serves as a catalyst for Akin's transformation.

    • 💖 Love
    • ⚠️ Danger

Last updated: November 02, 2026 at 20:29

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Setting

Where and When Does Brotherhood Take Place?

The setting of Brotherhood (2022): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The story is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern societal issues such as crime, law enforcement, and familial conflict. The contemporary backdrop allows for a realistic depiction of urban life and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters. Themes of crime and consequences resonate strongly with current audiences.

Location

Lagoon, Togo

The Lagoon serves as a vital setting in the film, connected to the climactic events that unfold. It symbolizes the boundary between life and death for Akin, along with the challenges faced by both brothers. Togo, a neighboring country, represents a potential escape route and foreshadows the uncertain future ahead for Akin.

  • 🌊 Water
  • 🌍 Geography

Last updated: November 02, 2026 at 20:29

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3 major themes

Brotherhood Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Brotherhood (2022) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Brotherhood

    The theme of brotherhood is central to the film, showcasing the complex relationship between Wale and Akin. Their bond is tested by opposing lifestyles and moral choices, highlighting both loyalty and betrayal. Through their struggles, the narrative explores the innate connection between brothers, regardless of the paths they choose.

  • Crime

    Crime is a pervasive theme, illustrated through Akin's involvement with the 'Ojuju Boys' and their heists. The film sheds light on the consequences of criminal behavior, demonstrating how it affects not only the criminals but also their families and communities. The characters' lives are profoundly shaped by their choices in this dangerous world.

  • Loss

    Loss permeates the narrative, marking pivotal moments that define the characters' arcs. From the brothers witnessing their parents' murder to the tragic fate of Akin's lover, the theme of loss drives the emotional impact of the story. It illustrates the heavy price of violence and the fragility of human connections.

Last updated: November 02, 2026 at 20:29

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Movie threads

More Movies Like Brotherhood, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Brotherhood tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies like Brotherhood: Blood Ties Tested by Violence

Loyalty binds characters together as crime, trauma, and revenge pull them apart. Explore movies like Brotherhood featuring fractured family loyalty, competing loyalties, and shared trauma. These intense dramas follow relatives whose bonds are strained by crime, suspicion, and violence, creating emotionally heavy choices with lasting consequences and uncertain futures for every character involved.

  • family betrayal
  • divided loyalties
  • shared trauma
  • violent choices
  • moral conflict
  • tragic survival
  • Tone: tense, tragic, morally conflicted
  • Pacing: variable, quieter passages then violent acceleration
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Characters in these stories begin with a fragile bond, often rooted in childhood or family duty. As opposing paths expose them to crime and violence, each must decide whom to protect and whether loyalty can survive betrayal. The arc moves from wounded intimacy to impossible choices, with survival and a fragile reopening of the bond arriving only at a severe moral cost.

Why they belong together: These films are united by relatives forced to confront a conflict larger than their shared history. Childhood trauma, divided loyalties, family trauma, and violent retaliation intensify every decision, making the central question less about justice than whether personal bonds can endure it.

Movies like Brotherhood: Tragic Crime Spirals and Retaliation

A single violent choice escalates into betrayal, retaliation, and irreversible loss. Find movies like Brotherhood with botched crimes, ambushes, and retaliatory killing. Similar thrillers build from uneasy family history into violent set pieces, then follow grief and suspicion as each consequential act narrows the path to survival for those caught inside it.

  • botched crime
  • ambush violence
  • retaliation
  • betrayal
  • grief
  • moral collapse
  • Tone: ominous, brutal, morally unsettled
  • Pacing: variable, accelerating into chaotic violence
Why these movies?

The story pattern: A dangerous plan sets a chain of violence in motion: a crime goes wrong, trusted people are caught or killed, and retaliation replaces judgment. Quiet moments of grief and family history make the consequences personal, while successive confrontations drive the story toward a tragic, morally unsettled resolution.

Why they belong together: These films connect through escalating criminal consequences and the loss of moral restraint. Violent set pieces are balanced by grim aftermaths, while betrayal, grief, revenge, and survival transform one disastrous decision into a sustained cycle of tragedy.

Every angle

Brotherhood (2022) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Brotherhood in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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