After winning the Audience Award at the 2023 Atlanta Film Festival, writer/director Sheridan O’Donnell’s debut feature Little Brother finally arrives in theaters and digital in September. The film stars Oscar winner JK Simmons, along with Daniel Diemer (The Half of It), Philip Ettinger (First Reformed), and Polly Draper (Thirtysomething).
As seen in the new trailer released by Gravitas Ventures, Little Brother centers on Jake, who is tasked with driving his older brother Pete from Albuquerque to Seattle for a family intervention following his suicide attempt. It’s clear the two siblings are a combustible pair, but the journey is long and sets them on a course for reconciliation. Simmons plays their father, who we mostly see on the phone keeping tabs on their progress and well-being.
In a statement, O’Donnell talked about a friend’s suicide as an inspiration to tell this deeply personal story…
“I wrote the film to capture their warmth and humor and attempt to understand their mental health journey, all of which I hope deeply connects with viewers. We’re grateful to Gravitas Ventures for championing the film and are thrilled to work with them on bringing LITTLE BROTHER to audiences.”
SYNOPSIS: LITTLE BROTHER begins after Pete (Ettinger) attempts suicide, pushing his overbearing father Warren (Simmons) to recruit his little brother Jake (Diemer) to drive Pete from Albuquerque to Seattle for a family intervention. The brothers aren’t just oil and water; they’re fire and gasoline—and they’re both crammed inside a busted-up van for 1,400 miles with nowhere to hide. As they cross the American West, the two struggle to reconcile their past and forge a new bond.
Little Brother opens in theaters, digital, and VOD in September.
