For two brothers who rely on one another, love is a daily act of devotion

In his touching short film Brothers (2015), the Polish filmmaker Szymon Jan Sinoff documents the remarkable bond between the brothers Faszyński. Zenon, who is unable to use his legs, is highly reliant on Irek’s help, which he’s provided dutifully for the 37 years since Zenon first became disabled. Speaking about his brother, Zenon confides: ‘Someone told me once, it’s probably better that he’s slow, no one else would want to [look after you].’ To which Zenon adds: ‘No one else could.’ Irek, for his part, is mostly silent and simply follows Zenek’s instructions, leaving his brother’s side only for the occasional cigarette. In his small yet powerful slice-of-life documentary, Sinoff depicts brotherly love as a daily act of devotion, ever present within the walls of their shared apartment, even if rarely – if ever – spoken.