Blood Brother is an emotional look into the desperate lives of orphaned children living with HIV in India, and one man’s determination to make them smile.

First-time director Steve Hoover embarks on a journey with his protagonist and best friend, humanitarian Rocky Braat, and together, travel to a poverty-stricken HIV orphanage to create a family with the children who have nothing.

The documentary draws you in from the second it hits the screen; a young girl is seen lifeless, flung over her father’s shoulder as a crowd of villagers are clearly in distress. It’s nighttime and the tension is high, even with the scene being a silent one. We gather that her father is trying to get his daughter to a hospital. He begins to wrap her in a blanket when, seconds later, her head snaps backward, face towards the sky. At this moment, we know she’s lost the battle. The scene ends abruptly, without explanation, and the title sequence of the film begins. It’s unsettling, but a good preparation for what to expect about the documentary’s tone.

This is what happens when you become close to someone, you accept the risk that they could break your heart.

For the most part, Blood Brother plays at a very quick and consistent pace, although the beginning drags a bit. Rocky’s family backstory is uncovered and his previous trip to India is discussed, although I believe the film could have done without the extra background and just focused on Rocky’s current time in India.

While at the HIV orphanage, Rocky is considered a hero, called “Anna,” meaning “big brother” to these children. It’s easy to see how at home Rocky feels around the children; his energy is at a constant high around them. Whether he’s playing guitar to the kids or being a human jungle gym, Rocky is their best friend and glimmer of hope. His special bonds are tested as he watches children die, or become so close to the brink of death that, in one instance, a boy falls ill and is given a survival rate of less than 10%. This is what happens when you become close to someone, you accept the risk that they could break your heart. Watching these moments are extremely powerful on screen.

Unlike other social justice documentaries, the weight of this film is heavy. Blood Brother is not only a remarkable film, it’s also Steve Hoover’s directorial debut, which is inspiring to all future filmmakers. The documentary premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2013, where it won the US Documentary Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award. Blood Brother is an important film that should be seen by everyone.