Saagar Kote
‘Broke’ is a drama film that narrates the emotionally complex journey of a bronc rider named True Brandywine. Navigating his trials and tribulations in the rodeo arenas and familial life, it tugs at the viewers’ heartstrings through its portrayal of love, obsession, family, grief, loss, and redemption. True’s passions and limitations intertwine in convoluted ways, leading him to make tough choices. The world of rodeos gets an authentic representation in the movie, due to its grounded visual style and honest performances. When the storyline approaches its crescendo, the protagonist’s fate hangs in the balance, as he battles against the elements and his own dreary soul to survive the blizzard. Stuck in an abandoned cabin, he waits for a ray of hope to dispel the darkness that surrounds him. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Broke Plot Synopsis
Stuck in a ravaging blizzard, True Brandywine desperately searches for his horse, Dude, as he emerges from the snow. The narrative shifts between past and present, chronicling the journey of the bronc riding protagonist. True’s struggles and achievements in the rodeo arena are revealed through raw and exhilarating visuals as he tries to win over the horse and the crowd. He is seen using communal facilities to take a shower, as he tries to recover from his tough day in the arena. In the present, True rushes towards his truck to save himself from the snowstorm, almost causing frostbite. In the past, he sits in a diner, sketching cowboy images on tissue paper, indicating that he has an inclination towards art. His addiction to painkillers is also portrayed as the narrative moves forward.
The blizzard gets wilder as the struggling protagonist finds an abandoned cabin towards the edge of the open field, where he takes refuge. True’s emotional dynamics with his father George, mother Kathy, and brother Caleb, are revealed. He is loved deeply by his mother and brother, whereas his veteran father keeps questioning him about his plans for the future, even suggesting he enlist to serve as a marine. One of the most important events in the bronc rider’s life transpires when he meets a nurse named Ali, who helps him clean up his wound sustained due to a truck repair attempt. True and Ali forge an instant connection, after which they hang out with the nurse’s friends and take a walk.
At the diner, Ali discovers that True creates wonderful art as he presents her with one of his tissue paper sketches. It is also at this moment that it is revealed that the bronc rider has some form of traumatic brain injury that rings his ears with high-pitched sounds. In the abandoned cabin, the protagonist continues to struggle as he tries to survive the blizzard. In the past, his brother Caleb, who isn’t “tough,” worries that his dad would pressure him to enlist. True and Caleb share a very deep bond, often helping each other out on their father’s ranch. Ali and True reveal their love for each other after she defends him in front of his father, supporting his freedom to make his own choices for the future.
True continues to struggle in the middle of the snow in the present, unable to survive outside the cabin for long. Back in the rodeo arena, he takes a terrible tumble, which lands him at the hospital, where the doctor warns him not to pursue his rodeo bronc riding career anymore, much to his dismay. To inspire him, Ali takes him to an art gallery displaying cowboy art and portraits, which makes him emotional. In a pivotal scene, True and his father have an intense argument, wherein the main character loses his cool and berates his dad for repeatedly questioning him about his future.
Ali grows worried as her lover expresses that he wants to get back into the rodeo arena again, which would ultimately aggravate his brain injury and threaten his life. After Caleb’s untimely demise on military duty, the heartbroken bronc rider emotionally breaks up with Ali and also leaves home, hoping to take risks again. After putting his life on the line again multiple times in the arena, he gets hired by the owner of an isolated ranch. When he takes his horse, Dude, out to run errands in an open field, he collapses as his ears ring, just as the blizzard strikes. This is the point where past and present connect, leaving his fate in the balance.
Broke Ending: Is True Brandywine Alive? How Did He Survive the Blizzard?
True Brandywine gets stuck in the blizzard after he collapses due to his traumatic brain injury. His medical condition causes him to feel disoriented, especially after he ignored medical advice and continued risking his life at rodeo arenas. His tumultuous experiences after the blizzard strike lead him towards the edge of survival. His mind and body crumble under the weight of the cold and his own guilt, especially made worse by the passing of his brother Caleb on military duty. He unsuccessfully searches for Dude, who also seems to have been taken away by the snow. The bronc rider tries to hunt for food, but the wild terrain and the presence of a dangerous wolf make it difficult for him to achieve much success.
In a particularly hard moment, True tosses his meat from a hunt towards the threatening wolf, just to prevent it from attracting him. At the cabin, devoid of food and water, he begins to contemplate suicide as he loses all hope of survival. His traumatic past of losing his brother and his doomed romance with Ali make it particularly difficult for him to hold on to the last light of life. In what is the most disturbing moment of the story, he grabs the hunting rifle and aims it at his own throat. After hesitating for a moment, he seemingly fires it off camera. A montage of his childhood experiences and lighthearted moments with his family plays. His childhood passion towards bronc riding and his eventual foray into the arena are revealed through nostalgic visuals.
A moving image of an adult True Brandywine falling from his horse is played, indicating that he might be dead. However, what follows is nothing short of a miracle. It is revealed that True shot the dilapidated roof of the wooden cabin, instead of his own throat. He wakes up, imagining Ali in the sunlight, symbolizing that she is the ray of light he needed. The hole in the roof, caused by his gunshot, gives way to bright sunshine, which caresses him gently as he lies down on the floor. The gentle rays of the sun dispel the cold and harrowing effects of the blizzard. Despite looking surreal for a moment, it is clarified that the bronc rider is very much alive, breathing new air and absorbing sunlight again. He survives the blizzard due to the combined actions of nature and his fighting spirit.
True steps out from the cabin and traverses the terrain of the open field to make it out of his ordeal. He keeps walking towards freedom and is greeted by the most heartwarming surprise imaginable. He finds Dude waiting for him as he reaches the other end of the field. Overcome by happiness, he rushes towards his four-legged friend and caresses his forehead. He embraces Dude, and the two of them head towards the road to get out of their predicament. Their luck favors them as a driver spots them on his side view mirror and rushes to save them. The kind stranger promises the protagonist that he will be okay. Not only does True make it out of the blizzard alive, but he also emerges as a more resilient man, looking to live again.
Will True Pursue Painting?
One of the most interesting points in True Brandywine’s character arc is his love for sketching. He often draws tiny, but moving portraits of cowboys and horses on tissue paper. He even gifts his paper art to his mother, which she cherishes. His artistic skills also make a profound impression on Ali, who urges him to use them to achieve greater things. At one point, she suggests he quit bronc riding and go to art school instead, where he can hone his painting skills and put them to better use. However, he dismisses her, saying that he would rather pursue his rodeo career, despite it endangering his life. The story takes a surprising turn after True survives the blizzard. Some days after his blizzard experience, he begins to stare at his artworks and sketches and think about the future.
In this instance, True looks at them in a more positive light and recognizes their meaning. It can be presumed that his visit to the cowboy art gallery with Ali at an earlier point in the film inspired him to take painting more seriously. Despite his resentments in the past, his survival makes him a more hopeful man. He picks up some of his cowboy sketches and paintings, mailing them to interested parties, possibly to get a scholarship or opportunities. This hints at the possibility of True wanting to go to art school to become a better painter. He recognizes that his personal experiences as a bronc rider can also make his paintings feel more authentic and grounded.
His art is not just beauty, but also a testament to his trials and tribulations as a man who risked his life and survived, both on and off rodeo grounds. The clarity given to him by Ali most likely made it easier for him to understand the purpose of his art, as she told him that it’s not just about money, but also about love. He chooses to pursue a future as a painter primarily because people will love him for it, and not for the dollars it will bring. The gentler side of True’s soul emerges through his paintings, triumphing over his persona as a bronc rider.
Do Ali and True Reunite? Will They Get Married?
Ali and True forge a deep and emotionally complex relationship over the course of the narrative. They instantly bond with each other after a chance meeting. The emotional nucleus of the film lies in the portrayal of their relationship, which goes through the ups and downs of love. Due to their diverging paths after Caleb’s death, the two of them break up. In what is probably the most emotional scene in the storyline, True makes a confession to Ali, telling her that she is a great person and he is a liar. He finds it difficult to keep lying to her about who he is, an obsessed and pessimistic bronc rider who has no interest in the pursuit of greater things anymore. This leads him to break up with her and drive towards an uncertain future.
However, the ending portions of the narrative lead to a more positive outcome for the lovers. After his survival, True emerges as a better man who is more hopeful and willing to live a full life. His insecurities from the past disappear as he begins to move towards more positive things. This ultimately leads him to Ali again. At the very end of the narrative, we see Ali walking out of the hospital after a day of nursing duties. She gets into her car and finds an intimate surprise waiting. She finds a pencil sketch of herself, which instantly makes her emotional, possibly realizing that it’s True’s doing.
Ali becomes more emotional as she spots True on her side view mirror, waiting for her with a hopeful smile. She rushes to open her door as the screen cuts to black. It can be presumed that Ali and True will hug each other and continue their romantic journey. Not only do the two of them reunite, but they presumably forge a stronger bond, having gone through tragedy and triumph. Whether or not they get married is not a question that is explicitly answered in the narrative.
It is most likely that they will continue to build their relationship in stages before considering marriage. If True gets accepted into art school, he will mostly look to become a better artist first, while Ali continues to grow in her job as a nurse. Their bond will only grow stronger as they go through the ups and downs of their careers in the future. It is most likely that the two of them will eventually get married, whenever they feel that they are personally and professionally ready to do so. Their bond was forged under trying circumstances and stood the test of time, so a marriage will be a meaningful way to make their relationship stronger.
Does True Retire From Bronc Riding?
For a majority of the film, bronc riding remains True’s only obsession. Not only does he find meaning and purpose in it, but he also finds it a good distraction from his familial and emotional troubles. His dangerous decisions throughout the narrative emanate from his desire to get back on the rodeo arena and risk his life. His breakup with Ali and his leaving the family ranch occur due to his continued obsession with the risky sport. The ending of the film doesn’t explicitly reveal whether or not the protagonist retires from bronc riding. However, a few observations can be made about his future. True goes through an intense experience of survival when he makes it out of the blizzard alive. This leads him to tough realizations about his life and the future.
He finally recognizes that he has more things to live for and starts to pursue painting. Despite his love for bronc riding, he understands that his love for Ali and his passion for painting are probably more meaningful. This would definitely lead him towards retirement from the dangerous world of rodeos. He has given it his all and risked his life multiple times, even braving traumatic brain injuries in the arena. Just like athletes who retire when they feel that they have nothing new to offer anymore, True will presumably realize that he has more to offer as a painter and Ali’s partner, compared to what he can do in the rodeo arena.
He will no longer feel the need to risk his life or run away from things, as he will have Ali’s support whenever he needs it. Caleb’s passing also has an emotional impact on him, making him understand the meaning of death and how it affects loved ones. The combination of his guilt, survival, redemption, and love will draw him away from bronc riding and liberate him from the clutches of pessimism. It can be presumed that he will most likely retire from rodeos and live a safer, happier, and more meaningful life instead, surrounded by love and happiness.
Read More: Is Broke a True Story?
