The Brother from Another Planet

Lore & Background

The film's premise originated from a series of dreams John Sayles had while making the film Lianna, including one about an extraterrestrial who looks like a black man in Harlem. Sayles wrote the first draft in under a week while waiting to secure funding for Matewan. He financed the film using part of his MacArthur Fellows 'genius' grant, along with his own money from cable sales of Return of the Secaucus 7 and writing fees for adapting The Clan of the Cave Bear and its sequel.

Reader's Guide

The Brother from Another Planet is notable for its portrayal of the immigrant experience and cultural assimilation, as described by Sayles. Joe Morton's performance as the mute Brother, communicating entirely through facial expressions and body language, earned comparisons to silent films and was widely acclaimed. The film was shot on location in Harlem, chiefly at night, with a predominantly black cast and crew. Its visual style, as crafted by cinematographer Ernest R. Dickerson, emphasized high contrast and natural colors, avoiding the 'razzle-dazzle' typical of science fiction. The film became a cult classic, with critical reviews largely positive, and its public domain status has allowed it to reach a wide audience.

Did You Know?

• The film cost $350,000 to produce, partly funded by John Sayles' MacArthur Fellows 'genius' grant.
• Joe Morton's character has no lines of dialogue and communicates entirely through facial expressions and body language.
• The card trick scene on a subway car was filmed in an out-of-service car at a subway museum due to difficulty obtaining filming permits.
• The film entered the public domain during its original release due to an error in copyright protocols.