An extraordinary story: Blood Brother
‘Blood Brother’ is a documentary directed by Steve Hoover who was inspired on the story of Rocky Baart, a young American who redounded all; to lead a quality of life in Pittsburg, to fulfill the American dream, to have a steady job... all that in order to follow his heart; a heart that was caught in India. He never could have imagined the obstacles he would face, or the love he would find.
The reason that led him to reject such opportunities was humanity. Rocky Braat went to India as a disillusioned American tourist. There, he met a group of children with HIV/AIDS. The different world where the children were trying to survive was really different to where Rocky used to live; this allowed him to learn a lot of things. But his stay there wasn’t forever. His visa expired and he needed to return to the United States.
“I was really shocked for all the courage that Rocky had to start a new ‘life,’ leaving behind him family, friends… I admire him for that, not a lot of people will be as model as him is,” said a spectator who watched the documentary.
But after India, nothing was the same anymore. It awoke new feelings. He learned to look at life with new eyes and appreciate the little things from a very different viewpoint.
Every second that he expended away from the children was a sour second. Those children were abandoned by their families and society. But despite all the pain that this world has shown them, they have learned to love; and they loved Rocky as much as he loved them. Therefore, the distance was killing both of them; the kids and their hero.
“I should mention every single individual that I dealt with in my stay because I learned something from each one,” said a mom from PC who spent a summer 2 years ago in India.
That is why our leading role decided to move permanently to India and stays next to the children who make him feel good, next to people who you do not know from anything, but they make their house a "home" to you in the middle of the chaos.
When you arrive there, to such different ‘world,’ you need to adapt to several things, as the very hot weather, a very spicy food, a language that is not yours, the high pollution causing tremendous traffic, the constant noise, the chaos and the disorder. But all that for Rocky seemed like totally surmountable and nothing compared to everything you earn. Finally, as in any process of adaptation, there comes a time when you realize that things do not work the same way as in the country where you came from.
“It is a reality that grabs you soon as you land there. India shatters any expectation,” confessed the mom who was in India.
Without doubt it is an experience in where you get more than what you give and in where you learn that you can live differently. You may see dirty faces, but they smile you with such white teeth that almost dazzle you; you quickly connect with them.
“I should mention every single individual that I dealt with in my stay because I learned something from each one,” the mom explained.
It takes some skill to make a documentary about a Westerner working with Indian orphans infected with AIDS. It takes even more talent to tell this humbling story in as beautiful a way as Steve Hoover has with his new film ‘Blood Brothers.’ That is the reason why this movie won top honors at the Sundance Film Festival.
"This means so much for so many kids," director Steve Hoover said as he accepted the award.
Just say you, and I'm talking to the person who is reading this, take a chance in life to live an experience of this kind. It doesn’t matter how you are; extroverted, introverted… that experience will change your life forever.
There are thousands of details and moments, feelings that can only be felt, experience for yourself and are very difficult to convey.