LAYKE ANDERSON
NOW IN THE FINAL CHAPTERS OF POST-PRODUCTION
FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING
Ensnared in a fractured fairytale of his own making, a pious wanderer known only as Jude treads the hazy line between salvation and self-destruction. In a realm that feels like a waking dream—or perhaps a nightmare—Jude’s journey spirals into a kaleidoscope of myth, memory, and madness. To escape ‘Hell,’ he must confront the darkest corners of his own soul, but metamorphosis never comes without a cost.
SWEET BROTHER is independent filmmaking at its rawest—a wholly DIY, experimental odyssey that wears its scrapes and bruises proudly. Drawing inspiration from Werner Herzog’s “bolt-cutters and apologies” ethos, the film stitches together the sacred and the profane, melding Biblical allegory, mythological echoes, and pop-culture glitches into a singular, surreal vision. Its anachronistic soundtrack fuses baroque classics with contemporary electronica, featuring original compositions by award-winning composer Michael Llewelyn Barker, alongside tracks by Jesse Somfay, Coppé, and The Allegorist.
The film stars Orlando Brooke and Sophie Brooke as estranged siblings Jude and Bess—two lost souls reunited in 'Hell'. They are supported by a mighty ensemble cast of over fifty—including Henry Garrett, Tereza Srbova, Merryl Ansah, Maya Markelle, Anarosa Butler, Lisa Moorish, Luke Ireland, Peter McPherson, Stefania Licari, Gem Carmella, Chloe Keenan, Alex Guersman, Jon Campling, Jarry Galvin, Kane Surry, Jane Paul-Gets, Rocci Williams, Polly Fey, Carol Walton and Raffiella Chapman to name just a few, as well as two breathtaking horses from The Stampede Stunt Company.
SWEET BROTHER is as much about collaboration as it is about creation.
SWEET BROTHER
THE JOURNEY (THUS FAR)
What started as a lockdown writing experiment in 2020 evolved into something altogether monstrous—patching together the unresolved and the unanswered into a fairytale patchwork quilt of genres, styles, and ideas, while naturally sidestepping cinematic norms. I hadn't planned to make a film like this, but in a world gone ape-shit, I figured, why the fuck not. After all, cinema is not dead. Cinema is an untameable beast that thrashes with the ferocity of the condemned. I've always appreciated the absurd, so heaps of that, plus a blend of post-punk cynicism and a little caustic humour. And humour (with a splash of philosophy) is an apt tonic in these bootless times.
SWEET BROTHER’s fragmented narrative invites a multitude of interpretations, spiralling from spiritual crises and theological dilemmas to explorations of identity, mythology, and the savage cruelty of nature. I won't harp on about that too much, not because I don't wish to bore you, but because I need to get back to editing. One grows weary of the 'so when's the film out?' question. But I'm glad you're here (if you are still) and appreciate your visit. That said, I'll return to this later, but will say briefly that the filmmaking process has been equal parts alchemy and chaos, comparable perhaps to juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle. While there was a risk of losing all interpretative stability, fortunately I was already too preoccupied slipping arse-over-tit in fake blood, or flinging myself into a bed of nettles (camera on shoulder). Broken arm? Pfff, that's what gaffer-tape was made for. I'm referring to my own arm (no actors were harmed). Admittedly, it's been fucking brutal at times, but transformative. What began as a nihilistic exploration somehow turned into something unexpectedly redemptive—part spiritual excavation, part love-letter to everything I love about cinema (and the power of collaboration), and an ode the madness of storytelling itself. Unclassifiable and unapologetic, SWEET BROTHER embraces elements of both horror and fantasy, (and at times with the very blackest humour) threading philosophical discourse, savage brutality and graphic sexuality with moments of surreal magic into its quilt. At its core, the film is about connection—however messy, flawed, or fleeting that might be. It's a contrast of extremes, both universal and particular, and just about every interpretation is as valid as the next. Though one thing is probably a guarantee, and that's that no-one will look at cheese-graters the same way again.
Currently in the final stages of post-production, SWEET BROTHER wouldn’t exist without the unflinching support of those willing to believe in the impossible, and it's with all my thanks to these beautiful people, including Stephen Fry, Rose McGowan, John Cameron Mitchell, and so many who took a leap of faith. The film is set for completion this year, 2025. SWEET BROTHER is a film that doesn’t just tell a story, but dares you to feel it.
L.A.
