My Brother’s Wedding

My Brother’s Wedding

Year: 1983

Runtime: 81 mins

Language: English

Director: Charles Burnett

Drama

A young African-American man, living in Los Angeles without direction in his life, reluctantly agrees to be the best man for his brother, an upwardly mobile lawyer.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – My Brother’s Wedding (1983)

Trace every key event in My Brother’s Wedding (1983) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Pierce's blues begin: harmonica and a call to duty

The film opens with a man playing the harmonica and singing the blues as Pierce walks the street. A woman calls him to visit her sister’s baby, pulling him into a day full of responsibilities he resists then accepts. The scene sets Pierce's world of work, family, and trouble that threads through the story.

Opening scene City street
2

Pierce visits Soldier's mother; the family ties and wedding tension

Pierce goes to Soldier's house where Mrs. Richardson asks if Soldier will ever act his age. She mentions the wedding and asks about her other son’s fiancée Sonia, revealing class tensions. Pierce reveals Soldier wrote a letter promising to stay out of jail and even asked for a job, but the visit sours with family expectations.

Afternoon Soldier's house
3

In the shop: a mocking plan to fix pants and a misdirected punch

At Pierce's mother's shop, Mr. Bitterfield asks to mend pants for a church going event. Mrs. Mundy suggests a trick: instead of fixing, they should throw the ripped pants in the trash and give him a pair from the unclaimed box. While they discuss, a wrestling match between Pierce and his father erupts in the back.

Afternoon Pierce's mother's shop
4

Family dinner prep: Big Momma and the wedding clock

Pierce goes to Big Momma and Big Daddy to collect something and to check if Haddie wants to go out, but Big Daddy chastises him for rude behavior. The scene shows how community elders weigh in as a backdrop to family obligations and the upcoming wedding. Pierce leaves with a sense of pressure to conform.

Evening Big Momma and Big Daddy's house
5

Dinner with the Richardson family: Sonia, secrets, and expectations

Back at the family home, Sonia's upcoming wedding is talked about. Pierce and his mother discuss how daughters should be helped to feel grown and respected, and Pierce pushes back, arguing that their sacrifices have defined him. The dinner becomes heated as expectations clash over class and ambition.

Evening Richardson home
6

The next day: Angela's prom invitation and a stolen moment

A man comes in looking for clothes he left months ago, and they debate his missing aliases. Angela asks Pierce to take her to prom in a couple of years, but he shows little interest. Angela exits to go to Smokey Robinson's, while Pierce continues with his day.

Morning Cloth shop
7

Pierce tries to secure a job for Soldier; rejects; Pierce brings Soldier home

Pierce visits a liquor store to find work for Soldier, but his friend refuses to hire a former convict. Disappointed, Pierce leaves and then picks up Soldier to take him home. Soldier's arrival brings Mrs. Richardson to tears as she greets him like a son.

Afternoon Liquor store and Soldier's home
8

Solider's new life weaves into Pierce's routine

Pierce becomes a fixture in Soldier's life, hanging out and looking after him. They reminisce and face hard truths, including telling Soldier about his friend Lonneil, who was killed during an attempted liquor store robbery. The moment underscores how two men lean on each other while the town carries its scars.

Daytime City streets and alley
9

Store robbery attempt and the question of Barbara

A man attempts to rob the shop but backs away when Mrs. Mundy senses what he is planning. Soldier asks Pierce about his girlfriend Barbara and whether they have slept together, revealing tension and curiosity. A hidden shooter fires, but there are no bullets in the gun, and the pursuers escape.

Next day Store
10

Secret tensions at the dinner table escalate again

Pierce's mother begs him not to embarrass the family during dinner with the Richardsons. He argues that Sonia has never worked for anything in her life and accuses her of lacking effort. The exchange ends with a painful reminder that respect depends on traditional success.

Dinner time Richardson home
11

Soldier’s death and the fallout

That night Soldier dies in a car accident. Pierce rushes to Soldier's house as the family grieves and the community reels from the loss. Pierce solidifies his role as caretaker to Soldier's mother and contends with the sudden emptiness of his friend's life.

Night Near Soldier's home
12

Funeral, wedding, and the final dilemma

News arrives that Soldier's funeral is scheduled for Saturday, the same day as his brother's wedding. Pierce tries to move the date but faces resistance from the families involved. He ultimately attends neither, ending up in the mortuary parking lot with the wedding rings as the weight of duty and loss settles in.

Funeral day Soldier's house / mortuary parking lot

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:42

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My Brother’s Wedding Summary

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My Brother’s Wedding Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in My Brother’s Wedding

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