When L’Tisha Morton (Vanessa Williams) discovers that she’s dying of tuberculosis, her first concern is for the welfare of her sons, ages 8 and 11. The single-mom desperately wants them both to be adopted by the same family, because James (Christopher Scott), the younger one, is mentally-challenged. But when that doesn’t happen, rather than allowing the two to be separated, she entrusts the elder, Isaiah (Nashawn Kearse), with the responsibility of raising his sibling who is afflicted with Down Syndrome.

Not surprisingly, trying to survive on their own in New York City proves to be quite a challenge, and that endeavor is the essence of what My Brother has to offer. Along the way, Isaiah is understandably distracted periodically, whether by the possibility of making easy money via street crime or by the womanly wiles of a seductive Sugar Mama (Tatum O’Neal) with Jungle Fever. So, the question is whether he will remain resolute in resisting temptation and opt to behave responsibly. 

The picture was written and directed by Anthony Lover who must be credited for making the first film ever to feature an African-American with a developmental disability in lead roles, Donovan Jennings (James at the age of 8) and Christopher Scott (James as an adult). The historic aspect of the production aside, there are a couple of other reasons to recommend My Brother.