Examining the psychological scars that afflict many different people in America, "Follow Me Home," is a tale of people who venture on a cross-country journey looking to heal the wounds that colonial America has inflicted on them. It is a wound that is "soul" deep, according to the film's writer and director, 33-year-old Peter Bratt.

"Follow Me Home can be embraced by all people. The core theme running through the film, spirituality, is universal," Bratt said. "All human beings are spiritual. At the same time, audiences of color can specifically identify with the outer and inner conflicts."

Brother Benjamin Bratt, 32, Peter Bratt's co-producer and lead star agrees. He says the film is intended to make people aware of the problems facing them today.

"I just want to move people and I think this film definitely accomplishes that," Benjamin said.

Follow Me Home won the best feature film audience award at the San Francisco International Film Festival and placed in the 1996 Sundance Film Festival. It is now in theaters.

The film revolves around four artists on a trek to paint a mural on the White House. Each artist is searching for his own revelation. The leader of this artistic road trip is Tudee (Jesse Borrego). He is tormented by dreams of his ancestors. His cousin Abel (Benjamin Bratt) is an artist who uses drugs and the streets to cope. Steve Reevis plays Freddy, a Native American who struggles to stay sober and overcome his prison record. Calvin Levels plays a well-educated African American who tries to keep the peace amidst all the turmoil. Later, they meet up with Alfre Woodard, who plays Evey; she is also on a journey that will take her full circle in her life.

"It's a metaphorical journey in all senses," explains Borrego. "The narrative itself is very simple. The four friends are house painters in one extreme but are also artists in another."

They are all from different walks of life, according to Borrego, and when they come together it unites them in a special camaraderie.

"Our whole journey is to jump into a van and drive to Washington, D.C. and paint a mural of our ancestors and our stories on the White House, La Casa Blanca," Borrego said. "This is a fantastic idea, this hero quest, that all of these characters embark on."

It is metaphorical, Borrego explains, in that it is not important that they even reach the White House. What is important is that the journey has begun.

"[My character] talks about what we are projecting, and what we are projecting is that the White House is this canvas, this white space, where our people's stories are not told," he said. "The story of the Native American people from both borders."

Making a film about the struggles of Native American people was a huge gamble in today's film industry. According to Peter, no one in the industry is interested in making contemporary films about Native Americans. Instead, Bratt said, they are portrayed as "romantic images of the past, the stoic Plains Indian sitting on his horse. This is one aspect of Native American culture, but it's not the only one. Indian people are as beautiful, diverse and complex today as they have ever been."

Peter also wanted to address the image of the Afro-Latinos who reside south of the border. "[They are] generally regarded as a sub-standard version of their North American counterparts. What we wanted to do was look beyond borders and reflect an aspect of the Native spectrum. Thus, for example, the character Freddy brings a northern flavor, while Tudee, a Chicano, brings an aspect of the southern."

Peter grew up in San Francisco which exposed him to the city's diverse ethnic and political mix. He says that exposure gave him inspiration for the film. His mother was also a tremendous influence. Eldy Bratt, a Quechua Indian from Peru, has been involved in the Native American community for quite some time.

For Benjamin, starring as the hard-edged Abel was a major departure from his "Law and Order" role as a New York City police detective.

"This role is different. It was closer to me than any other role I portrayed. It meant more to me because the character is so far removed from what I really am, [with Abel's] history of substance abuse and internalized oppressions," Benjamin said. "When my brother wrote this he had no idea I'd be playing the role."

Indeed, the role presented a challenge for both brothers. "This guy [Abel] is a pit bull." Benjamin said. He explains that his brother Peter did not think he could play such a fierce character. "My mother actually stepped in and put in her two cents," Benjamin said.

"I got a call a day later from my mom," Peter recounts. Peter explains that it was his mother who pointed out how Benjamin had always supported Peter in all his projects and Benjamin deserved a chance to prove himself in this role.

"'He is familia,' she said, and it was settled," Peter explains.

According to Peter, the harshness in Abel's character comes from his lost identity as a Native American. "He has completely lost his heritage, he has no spirituality, he doesn't know where all that (rage) came from."

Benjamin said the same anger is felt by many who feel disenfranchised by the government and abandoned by society. "In society today you see a movement to embrace your culture again," Benjamin said. He mentions that in the 1950s, people tried to turn away from their roots, perhaps suffering from a particular kind of shame. "It wasn't until the '70s that things began to change. People were trying to get back to their roots."

"At the same time, there's a lot of pressure for Latinos to assimilate," agrees Peter.

"What I see happening throughout the world is that every culture is trying to emulate the Western model."

The film was indeed a labor of love. The majority of the actors, crew and people who worked on the film volunteered most of their time. "A grassroots effort," explains Peter.

Benjamin credits his brother's inherent leadership skills for bringing the entire cast and crew together to complete this award-winning film.

"It was always exciting and always difficult," Benjamin said. "Everyone was working for free, we had to lead by example. [Peter] was truly born to be a director."

Peter recounted his first day as "just so intense. I believe I was working with such high-caliber actors. I'm grateful to everyone from the grip to the actors. We all stuck around. We are all so grateful."

The feeling of camaraderie continued even after the cameras stopped rolling. "At the end of each day we headed back to the hotel for one big communal meal."

This brotherly collaboration hopefully won't be the last. Both Bratt brothers see more joint projects in the future.

"We just want to continue to make movies that make a difference to us and to everyone," Peter asserted. "It is just a question of time. I look forward to making films with my family."

Benjamin is currently a regular on the critically acclaimed show "Law and Order." This is just another blessing that was dropped upon me," Benjamin said. "I'm having a great time, I love living in New York, but I'm looking forward to going back to San Francisco."

Peter wants to continue to make films that touch upon the social turbulence of our time. And both will do so from their heart—from home.