 The Brothers Grimm is a 2005 adventure fantasy film directed by Terry Gilliam . The film stars Matt Damon , Heath Ledger , and Lena Headey in an exaggerated and fictitious portrait of the Brothers Grimm as traveling con @-@ artists in French @-@ occupied Germany , during the early 19th century . However , the brothers eventually encounter a genuine fairy tale curse which requires real courage instead of their usual bogus exorcisms . Supporting characters are played by Peter Stormare , Jonathan Pryce , and Monica Bellucci . 
