Along with Kongekabale (2004), this was the most successful and best reviewed Danish film of the year in its native country. However, neither of these two films was submitted by Denmark to the Oscars in the Foreign Language Film category. The Danish jury decided to send a documentary film, As Cinco Obstruções (2003), which had only been attended by 12,532 people in Danish theaters. This story made headlines, and Danish film producers officially stated that they would force the jury to pick Irmãos (2004) or "Kongekabale" instead. The jury, however, did not change their minds, and "De fem benspænd" was sent to the Oscars. It was not among the eventual nominees. "Brødre" later won several awards across the world, including at the Sundance Film Festival, and opened to stellar reviews in the US. The jury later admitted that they possibly chose the wrong film to send to the Oscars that year.
Sitting in the first two rows in the church, all but actor Niels Olsen, who plays Colonel Allentoft, are real army officers in their own uniforms.
Director Susanne Bier thought Connie Nielsen's accent was more Swedish than Danish and made her take Danish lesson. Nielsen has been living in the USA for many years, and didn't speak Danish in her everyday life, but the result of the lessons turned out to be pretty good (though, still with a little accent).
There's an American remake of this movie entitled Entre Irmãos (2009) starring Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Natalie Portman.