There are a lot of movies out there about protagonists trying to find themselves in exotic locations, like India – think Eat, Pray, Love.
But in the case of the film “Blood Brother,” it’s a true story.
Pittsburgh native Rocky Braat was sick of his life stateside when he went to India in search of something meaningful – and he found his calling in an unexpected place.
Or maybe it found him. Braat’s story was documented on film by friend and director Steve Hoover.
"Initially, I was kind of having a reaction or I was sort of rebelling from production. I spent time doing music videos and commercials and everything was so planned out and polished..." Hoover admits.
Braat had gone to India as a tourist the year before, but after meeting a group of HIV infected children, and spending time in their orphanage, he changes his life and devotes himself to helping the kids.
"I mean he put calendars and photos of the kids on the wall, and literally everyday marking off everyday until he'd go back--for a year--and I just didn't get it," Hoover says.
It's Hoover's bafflement that made him want to shoot a documentary about Rocky and the kids, and find out what made this country and these kids so special.
Steve Hoover is the director of the documentary, “Blood Brother,” which will be shown at the Milwaukee Film Festival on Thursday night at the Oriental Theater.
