The narrative centers on the contrasting lives of two siblings: Sam Cahill (Maguire), a decorated Marine captain, and his younger brother Tommy (Gyllenhaal), a drifter who has just been released from prison.
But the title of the film— Brothers —is not merely a descriptor of biology. It is a study of two men trading places. As Tommy becomes the man of the house, Sam, who has survived the crash only to be taken prisoner by Taliban fighters, is subjected to torture and psychological conditioning that strips away his humanity. Brothers -2009-
When Sam is deployed to Afghanistan, his helicopter is shot down, and he is presumed dead. In the wake of this tragedy, Tommy—previously the family's "black sheep"—steps up to support Sam’s grieving widow, Grace (Portman), and her two daughters. As Tommy and Grace bond over their shared loss, Tommy finds a sense of purpose he never had before. The narrative centers on the contrasting lives of