Filmed in Canada in 2003 by Canadian rookie director, Jordan Barker, the film tells the story of 19-year-old identical twins, Eric and Lou Woods, who both share a dream of winning a National Rowing Championship. The Woods brothers may share the same good looks and aspirations but like most twins are vastly different in many ways. While Eric's life revolves around the opportunities rowing provides him to leave their small town and earn a college scholarship to a prestigious school, Lou just wants to win races and enjoy life.

Although the twins each possess a special talent for rowing, ultimately only one twin, Lou, is offered the college rowing scholarship. Lou's plan on how to deal with the scholarship offer (shielding the news of the offer from his brother, Eric, who he knows will be crushed if he goes to college without him) sets up the twins' first real separation conflict of their young lives.

Do you really think nobody will notice the difference?

My Brother's Keeper is the type of film that will probably be appreciated on two different levels by its audience; most moviegoers will enjoy it as a feel-good coming-of-age movie that showcases the acting talents of the up-and-coming Ashmore Twins (primarily Aaron as we'll explain in a minute). But twins who see the film may see it on a different level as it shows the sacrifice made for a twin for the common benefit of both siblings.

Throughout the film it's quite obvious that the film-makers understand what it's like to be a twin. The movie shows still photographs in the opening and closing credits of twins together (the photographs include real-life looks at the director and his twin brother and producer and his twin brother), it includes dialogue of questions that many adult/teenage twins will be quite familiar with, and the movies details a conflict that could probably shatter a relationship between many siblings or friends but that is realistically resolved (from this twin film critic's persepctive).

Behind the scenes, there is a great story about how the film was made. Director Jordan Barker and Producer Jeff Deverett, both veterans of the Canadian entertainment industry, met at a function one evening and the conversation drifted to something in common that the two shared -- both had identical twin brothers.

At that point, the duo knew they wanted to work together and make a film about twins, while casting identical twins in the leads. They put together a script that focused on a classic twins switching identities plot and sought high and long for twin actors who could play their twin leads.

After an International casting call for twins, the filmmakers thought they had found their Woods Twins - 25-year-old actors, Shawn and Aaron Ashmore, from British Columbia, Canada. The problem was that Shawn had landed two big roles just before filming was set to begin, a Fox film called 'The Underclassmen' and the second film in the X-Men series in which he plays the character of Iceman.

Despite a short shooting schedule of just 20 days, there was no way Shawn could be released from his other films to be present for all the shooting for 'My Brother's Keeper'. But the Ashmore's really wanted to make the film and play the Woods Twins, so they did what any good twins would have done in a similar challenge--they had Aaron play the roles of both twins in all single shots.

Shawn was able to be present for one week's worth of the film shooting so he and Aaron did work together on all of the film's shots that required both twins to act together. And thus, no split-screen 'Parent Trap' film magic was required for the movie and the filmmakers didn't have to resort to casting non twins in the leading roles.

Our recommendation is that all twins and families with twins make a double-date to go see this movie when it hits their local theaters. It's the least you can do for your twin.