American Documentary

Overview

New York, NY –June 23, 2022 – POV, America’s longest running documentary series, currently celebrating its 35th anniversary season, offers a first-person account of the considerable challenges Christine, a young Danish woman and her family face while caring for her older brother Peter, who has multiple disabilities in the emotional documentary He’s My Brother, making its national broadcast premiere on POV, Monday, August 1, 2022 (check local listings) and is available to stream free until September 1, 2022 atpbs.org, and thePBS Video app. In addition to standard closed captioning, POV, in partnership with audio description serviceDiCapta, provides real time audio interpretations for audiences with sensory disabilities.

He’s My Brother is directed by Cille Hannibal and co-directed by Christine Hanberg who is the younger sister of Peter. The film is told through Christine who examines her role as a loving sister, as a future guardian, and what it means to be responsible for another person’s life. Peter, now 31 years old, was born deaf, blind and with autism, and experiences the world primarily through touch, smell, and taste. Tactile communication is essential in order to conduct any kind of activity, and as such, Peter requires a high level of oversight.

Until five years ago, a dedicated facility was able to help the Hanbergs take care of Peter, however, when it was shut down due to “restructuring,” Peter’s care fell entirely on his family’s hands. Lifelong care for a person with multiple disabilities, for whom the Danish healthcare system does not provide a full support structure, leaves its mark mainly on his mother, Jonna, and Christine. Because of them, Peter’s experience of life without images or sound, is full of stimuli and happy moments. Though Jonna and Christine give him all the love and care they can, caretaking has also had a curtailing effect on their own lives. He’s My Brother explores how Peter’s family works to assure Peter a dignified life once he and Christine’s parents are gone, as well as Christine's uncertainties about one day becoming his primary caregiver.

Director Cille Hannibal said: “I first met Christine, my co-director, back in 2015. She shared her incredible life story, telling me about her family and specifically, her brother Peter. Peter was born deaf, blind, and later placed on the autism spectrum. The first thing that caught my attention about Peter was his own unique world. How does he understand and experience life and the world around him without sight and the ability to hear? It brings me the same feeling as when trying to understand eternity. But when I met the rest of the family, another narrative quickly revealed itself. It was obvious that the greater story was love. The love Christine shows her brother, in taking on the responsibility of his care. For me, this is first and foremost a story about the power of being a family and standing up for one another. But, also how important it is to find your own path through life.”

Co-director Christine Hanberg said: “I got my first camera when I was 10 years old and ever since I have documented the lives of my family. I have always been really fascinated with Peter's world. He is missing two senses – and what does that actually mean? So, it was very natural for my family to be on camera because the camera has always been there. Seven years ago when Peter's daycare closed, he was without help. My mom had to quit her job and become Peter's full time caretaker, while my dad had to go to work and I helped as much as I could. The commune was given all the resources needed by the state to help us, but would or could not help us because they simply didn't have the right competence to do so. Weeks and months went on, so I grabbed the camera and started filming because I could not comprehend how much responsibility we as relatives have to take when the system fails. I think it has really come to people's attention that even though Denmark has one of the richest welfare states in the world, we still can’t not help the weakest. The film is important to see now because the problems we experience with a failed system don’t just apply to Denmark. It happens all over the world. Now, seven years have gone by and we still haven’t gotten any help at all. Not even one offer for daycare for Peter and I see so many people struggling with the broken system. They don’t get the help they have the right to get, or are entitled to. Now I hope that our film can start a discussion about basic human rights for people with disabilities and about how big a responsibility we as relatives should take. For my part, I will be there for my brother anytime. But what about those who do not have the opportunity or the time in their lives? If the system doesn’t help. Who will, then?”

“Family bonds run deep in this touching chronicle about caretaking, love, and finding one’s own path,” said POV’s Executive Producer Chris White. “Peter and Christine’s interdependence will prompt viewers to examine their own relationships with those they hold most dear.”

[Download photos]

He’s My Brother, was produced by Final Cut For Real in co-production with Sant & Usant and American Documentary. Supported by TV2/Denmark, The Danish Film Institute, The Norwegian Film Institute, Fritt Ord Foundation, SVT and VGTV. Directed by Cille Hannibal, co-directed by Christine Hanberg and produced by Monica Hellström. The executive producers are Erika Dilday and Chris White for American Documentary.

Credits

Director: Cille Hannibal

Co-director: Christine Hanberg

Producer: Monica Hellström

Executive Producers: Erika Dilday, Chris White

Sales Agent: Cinephil

Co-producer: Anita Rehoff Larsen

Editors: Sofie Steenberger, Cille Hannibal

Cinematographers: Cille Hannibal, Christine Hanberg, Julie Bezerra Madsen

Sound Design Supervisor & Mix: Sune Kaarsberg

Sound Design: Rune Van Deurs

Composer: Sune Køter Kølster

Post producer: Francesc Sitges-Sardà

Colorist: Tom Chr. Lilletvedt

Graphic Design: Paul Wilson, Yellow1

Photos

Download He’s My Brother photos here

About the Filmmakers

Cille Hannibal, Director, He’s My Brother

Cille Hannibal was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. She has a degree as Documentary Director from the prestigious National Film School of Denmark and additionally studied at the Danish School of Media and Journalism. The Night We Fell was her debut film and was selected for CPH:DOX in 2018, nominated for a NORDIC:DOX award and BEST:SHORT at the prestigious festival, “Vision du Reel”, in Geneva in 2018. The film also ran on DR1. Working in the cross field between art and cinema, Cille premiered an art film at the National Gallery of Denmark in the spring of 2022. She is currently in production on a television show about the Danish popstar “Jada” which will premiere on Danish TV2 in 2023. Recent work includes: Margrethe (2015), a portrait of the Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II that aired on TV2 and Triatleten (2016).

Christine Hanberg, Co-Director, He’s My Brother

Christine was born in Sorgenfri in 1993. She is a rising documentary director and started her own production company CH FILM AND PHOTO in 2016. She has a degree from the European Film College, in 2019. Christine has studied at the New York Film Academy and is now getting a bachelor’s degree in TV and Media Production at the Danish School of Media and Journalism. He’s My Brother is Christine’s first feature in collaboration with the documentary filmmaker Cille Hannibal. Christine’s next directorial project is the documentary Trine, which will premiere in 2022.

Monica Hellström, Producer, He’s My Brother

Monica Hellström is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and was selected for Producer on the Move, Cannes 2020 and was awarded the prestigious ‘Ib award’ by the Danish Board of Film Directors in 2022. She started her company Ström Pictures in May 2022 and has been a producer at Final Cut for Real since 2010 and previously worked at Upfront Films and The Danish Film Institute's Film Workshop. Hellström was lead producer on the Sundance winning, Cannes official selection, three-time Oscar® and BAFTA nominated animated documentary Flee (2021) by Jonas Poher Rasmussen, A House Made of Splinters (Best director Sundance 2022, Best doc Götenburg) by Simon Lereng Wilmonts, and the Oscar shortlisted for Best Doc in 2018 The Distant Barking of Dogs. She graduated from EAVE Producer Workshop in 2010, holds an M.A. in film from the University of Copenhagen (DK) and a B.A. in film from the University of Bedfordshire (UK).

About

About POV

Produced by American Documentary, POV is the longest-running independent documentary showcase on American television. Since 1988, POV has presented films on PBS that capture the full spectrum of the human experience, with a long commitment to centering women and people of color in front of, and behind, the camera. The series is known for introducing generations of viewers to groundbreaking works like Tongues Untied, American Promise and Minding The Gap and innovative filmmakers including Jonathan Demme, Laura Poitras and Nanfu Wang. In 2018, POV Shorts launched as one of the first PBS series dedicated to bold and timely short-form documentaries. All POV programs are available for streaming concurrent with broadcast on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video app, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO. For more information about PBS Passport, visit the PBS Passport FAQ website.

POV goes “beyond the broadcast” to bring powerful nonfiction storytelling to viewers wherever they are. Free educational resources accompany every film and a community network of thousands of partners nationwide work with POV to spark dialogue around today’s most pressing issues. POV continues to explore the future of documentary through innovative productions with partners such as The New York Times and The National Film Board of Canada and on platforms including Snapchat and Instagram.

POV films and projects have won 45 Emmy Awards, 27 George Foster Peabody Awards, 15 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, three Academy Awards and the first-ever George Polk Documentary Film Award. Learn more at pbs.org/pov and follow @povdocs on social media.

About PBS

PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirm that PBS’s premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on Twitter.

About American Documentary, Inc.

American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc) is a multimedia company dedicated to creating, identifying and presenting contemporary stories that express opinions and perspectives rarely featured in mainstream media outlets. AmDoc is a catalyst for public culture, developing collaborative strategic engagement activities around socially relevant content on television, online and in community settings. These activities are designed to trigger action, from dialogue and feedback to educational opportunities and community participation.

Major funding for POV is provided by PBS, the Open Society Foundations, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, Reva & David Logan Foundation, Park Foundation, and Perspective Fund. Additional funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Sage Foundation, Chris and Nancy Plaut, Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee and public television viewers. POV is presented by a consortium of public television stations, including KQED San Francisco, WGBH Boston and THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG.