The Kid Brother Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

The Kid Brother Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 4, 2022

1987’s “The Kid Brother” is a Japanese production from a French-Canadian director about an American boy. It’s already an unusual picture, but the movie becomes even more interesting with its star, bringing young Kenny Easterday to the screen, showcasing his atypical life as a human without a lower half. Born with sacral agenesis, Kenny’s legs and hips were amputated as a baby, forcing him to move around on his hands, which provides the central image and story for “The Kid Brother,” which is a film about the making of a documentary, but also a drama about the wear and tear of family relationships. There’s a lot to unpack in Claude Gagnon’s endeavor, which is mostly interested in Kenny’s experience, working with the amateur actor to detail a 13-year-old’s processing of attention and independence.

“The Kid Brother” takes place in Pittsburgh, examining the world of Kenny as he deals with physical and psychological challenges, which extend to his family, including his troubled sister, Sharon Kay (Liane Curtis). While Kenny goes about his daily business of being a son and brother, complications arrive when a French filmmaking team comes to town to capture his life, following his routine and interviewing those close to him.

Gagnon understands he has something special with Kenny, trying present his world as naturally as possible, keeping away from exploitation with a more dramatic approach to his story. “The Kid Brother” is fiction, but it doesn’t feel like it at times, as the screenplay goes into brotherly dynamics (Kenny’s real brother, Jesse Easterday Jr., plays the part) and general family tensions when the documentary starts filming, becoming the latest international production to find its way to Pittsburgh. While a story develops concerning Sharon Kay’s return to the household dynamic, the most interesting addition to “The Kid Brother” is time with Kenny, watching him move around town, handle everyday responsibilities, and approach the construction of prosthetic legs, which are meant to make him look “normal,” a concept he understandably rejects.

The Kid Brother Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative. The results come across a tad darker than expected, but still retain a detailed look at frame elements, including dimensional town tours and interiors. Facial surfaces are textured, and costuming is fibrous. Color offers a noticeable push of green, making some imagery look at little unnatural at times. Clothing provides some primary power. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in excellent condition.

The Kid Brother Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix leads with distinct music selections, offering a clear synth sound. Dialogue exchanges are clean, managing different performance styles with ideal intelligibility. Atmospherics are appreciable.

The Kid Brother Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (10 pages) contains an interview with Jesse Easterday Jr. and a comic by Rick Trembles.

• Commentary features authors/film historians Kier-La Janisse and Ralph Elawani.

• "In Kenny's Company" (34:38, HD) is a video conference interview with writer/director Claude Gagnon.

• "Yuri & Claude & Kenny" (11:41, HD) is a video conference interview with "Gagnon's longtime producing partner" Yuri Yoshimuro-Gagnon.

• "Kenny's World" (9:04, HD) is a video conference interview with writer/director Claude Gagnon.

• And a Trailer (1:05, HD) is included.

The Kid Brother Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The film-within-a-film approach connects in "The Kid Brother," doing better than more melodramatic areas of conflict handed to actors perhaps unprepared to handle such emotional expression. Family dynamics go about as far as they can in the feature, which is far more fascinating as a study of Kenny's spirit and mobility, with very little getting in his way, and he knows it, bent on demonstrating his maturity, especially in the final act. Gagnon doesn't get too severe with turns of plot, hoping to offer a gentle viewing experience about people struggling to express dark thoughts to loved ones. "The Kid Brother" emerges with sensitivity and some stiffness, and it's held together by Easterday, who's comfortable in front of a camera, sharing his extraordinary world with viewers.