Brotherly Love is a 2015 American drama film written and directed by Jamal Hill. The film stars Keke Palmer, Cory Hardrict, Eric D. Hill and Quincy Brown. The film was executive produced by Queen Latifah for her production company Flavor Unit Films, Electric Republic and Jacavi Film. Brotherly Love was distributed by Freestyle Releasing and had a limited theatrical release in the United States on April 24, 2015.
Plot
Set in the city of Philadelphia and famed Overbrook High School, Brotherly Love follows star high school basketball player Sergio Taylor (Hill) as he struggles navigating the fame that comes with being a star athlete. Sergio's older brother June (Hardrict) saw his own basketball dreams fade away when he turned to the streets to provide for his family after the death of their father. Sergio's twin sister Jackie (Palmer) saw her ambitions of having a music career side tracked after unexpectedly falling in love with Chris (Quincy Brown).
It starts with the brutal killing of five hill boys hanging out. Junior “June” for short, wakes up and prepares Sergio for the day giving him some money. When they get to school Jackie (Keke Palmer) meets up with her two best friends Trina and Simone who is dating and has a child with June. They briefly talk about a boy named Chris from the hill and the upcoming school dance before Jackie goes off to the library. While there, Jackie meets Chris and he offers to drive her home, despite the warning that she is June's sister. When she gets home she is accosted by her mother, who is dealing with addiction since her father's passing.
While rolling dice, June gets into a fight with Zip's cousin who declares the neighborhood for the hill until the mystery gun man is found. Sergio's friend, Dez tells Sergio and Sean about a plan to break in and steal some items from a house up the hill. Sean shows a bit of interest while Sergio is hesitant. Sergio is conflicted and he goes to his uncle Ron's barber shop for advice. Uncle Ron tells him that every child in Philadelphia has the potential but what they lack is the focus, he shouldn't end up like his father or brother he tells him. “your talent doesn’t determine your fate your action does”.
Jackie is on her date with Chris who shows up late but makes up for it, when he surprises her by getting her studio time to record a song he wrote for her. Sergio meets up with June for late night practice. He literates his fears, June encourages him and reminds him of their plan to make it and leave the hood for good. Meanwhile, one of June's best friends Bunch is ambushed and killed.
While returning from the court just outside their house, June and Sergio are ambushed. Sergio escapes but June is held and drag into the house down to the basement where he sleeps, and is robbed of all the money he had been saving. While getting dragged out, his mother comes down the stairs and is shot by one of the assailants. They continue dragging June out who is struggling, alerting the neighbors who come outside, forcing the assailants to abandon June in the street.
Meanwhile, Jackie returns from her date with Chris and sees the police cars outside her home. She rushes to June, who tells her her mother had been shot and is on the way to the hospital. June gets angry when he sees Chris and tells him to leave. Sergio, June and Peanut (Bunch's brother) are together when June gets a call informing him about Bunch's killing.
Time passes as their mother heals. Jackie and Chris continue to see each other. Jackie finds out she is pregnant and keeps it to herself. Sergio considers Dez's plan because he wants to help with the money problems. June warns Jackie to quit seeing Chris because of the war going on between them and the hill, she refuses stating the fact that it has nothing to do with her and Chris.
June has a discussion with his mother, who says he has always been there for them showing strength and endurance. She tells him to look after himself and ease up on Jackie because she will end up despising him. Sergio wins his basketball season and June holds a surprise party in his favor. While at the party, Chris is outside saying he has information that might help June in finding the people responsible for shooting his mother and killing Bunch. Grateful, June quickly invites Chris in for the party. That night after the party June and Peanut follow the lead and end up killing them.