Two Brothers

Colonial Cambodia in the 1920s. Two tiger brothers, Kumal and Sangha, are separated when their father is killed. Kumal endures captivity and abuse in a circus; Sangha ends up in a palace menagerie. Years later, forced to fight, they recognise each other and escape together. Jean-Jacques Annaud directed and wrote it with Alain Godard. Guy Pearce and Freddie Highmore lead the human cast. Stephen Warbeck wrote the score. The most notable decision was working with real animals instead of digital effects: around 30 tigers were used, brought from French zoos and from Thailand. On a 57.8 million euro budget it grossed 62.2 million dollars worldwide. Rotten Tomatoes sits at 79 percent, with an A minus CinemaScore. Critics praised how it works as a family film and its cinematography. Who it is for: viewers who like animal films and adventure made for families. Who it is not for: anyone who cannot watch animals being mistreated. Much of the first half is built on it.