Brothers of the Head [siff] likes its characters far too much to be a mockumentary. In documentary style, the story of conjoined twin brothers Tom and Barry Howe (guitarist and lead singer for 1975 brit-punk sensations, the Bang Bang) is gradually revealed through contemporary interviews and found footage. In the universe of this film, the brothers have already inspired a novel, a sensational biopic, and reels of film; here the directors add additional footage, odd tape recordings, and home movies to create a dreamy collage.

While the movie doesn’t make a complete mockery of the Behind the Music genre, there is plenty of knowing humor about its conceit. Like any good music documentary, there is plenty of sex, drugs, rock & roll, through sweaty concert footage and the loose recording sessions held in the secluded mansion where the boys were sent off to be groomed for stardom after their father sells them to a former child star record producer.

Yes, it’s all a bit ridiculous, but somehow it works — in large part due to the floppy haired, big eyed twins who play the title roles. They express enough vulnerability to elevate this above simple parody, as we see their inherent lack of privacy further violated by camera crews, an abusive manager, and muckraking journalist who falls for one of them. In addition, the directors have managed to create a few genre and era-appropriate songs to keep the picture grounded in some halfway decent punk songs. It seems that SIFF is really an expectations game. I went in to the screening expecting a hokey comedy, and was pleasantly surprised to find a funny, haunting, and affecting portrait. It might turn out to be one of my festival favorites.

(screenings on 9 June & 10 June at Pacific Place; opens at the Varsity on 11 August)

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