The 21st century has not been kind to director Jean-Jacques Annaud, whose recent work hasn’t caught the imagination of audiences or critics; back in the 1980’s, he was hot stuff, and followed up on Quest for Fire and The Name of the Rose with a quite extraordinary film, a celebration of nature called The Bear. The main character is a bear cub, but this is no Disney story, but a brutal, heart-wrenching tale of friendship between animals and, eventually, between man and nature.
Played by Youk, the Bear Cub is a jovial little fellow, interested in butterflies and rolling around on his back, but tragedy strikes early when his mum gets caught in a rockslide and he’s unable to revive her. At this point, the viewer might easily be tempted to switch off and seek medical assistance; it’s agonising to watch, even knowing that the narrative has been artfully constructed and the animals are in no danger. Still, we press on; the bear cub initiates a friendship with a grizzly that he hopes to emulate, but when the grizzly gets into a deadly spat with a couple of hunters, the big boy takes a gunshot injury that the little one helps to clean. The two bears strike up a team against the encroaching hunters, and soon the little bear cub is developing the skills which will help him survive on his own…
Although rated PG, there’s quite a few moments here that need some trigger warnings; the grizzly slashes away with deadly intent at two horses, and flings hunting dogs against rocks with venom. Animatronics and other tricks were used to gain such moments, but the effect is deliberately jarring and upsetting due to the narrative drive. Less successful are the attempts to get inside the Bear Cub’s head; his dreams of Claymation frogs are hard to justify, as are some of the solarisation techniques, and a vigorous mid-film humping doesn’t land well either.
But such quibbles aside, this is an overwhelmingly well-made and original (based on a 1915 novel) family film that doesn’t skew towards cute. The notion embodied here is that nature has evolved to have mercy, whereas humans have not, and that point is well made by the moving plot developments in the final scenes.
Yes, take it from me. If a young person sees this, they will never forget it.
Oh my goodness, I can’t believe you wrote about The Bear. This movie has, as the kids say, been living rent free in my head for thirty years. I was seven when my mom and dad took me to the movie theater to see it…thinking, I suppose, that it was Disney and for kids. I’m not sure which scene triggered it, but I completely flipped out. I remember my mom taking me out into the hallway of the movie theater, and holding me while I cried about the bear, telling me that the blood was “just ketchup” and that it was all pretend.
We actually laugh about that every now and then, the mistake of taking a little kid to that movie. But when I saw the title, I still had that visceral reaction. I’ve never had the guts to go back and watch the rest…but maybe thirty-two years is finally enough distance 😉
I wondered about the fate of any young person who was taken to see this. At least you didn’t stay to see the dogs beaten on rocks. I’d not advise a return; great movie, yes, but traumatic for any sensitive person…
Another film that I will have to put on my list. Superb review
If this one has passed you by, then it’s perfect for a certain mood, with little dialogue, lovely landscapes, and an unusual story, well told.
Was terrific then and am sure it has held up.
when this came out a friend of mine who’d seen it described the intersticial noises the bear cub made throughout the film as incredibly annoying, basically a young woman’s voice sounding like struggling with heavy packages. Part two of my remark is much more broad- why do we insist on creating “feel bad” movies. I often think that our world is vicious enough (take the current genocide horror in Ethiopia), and that the best films can offer us is a reprieve from the exhaustion of feeling bad through fantasy. I realize that this cuts a swath through the point of millions of films (especially those of Lars Von Trier!) but, I personally just can’t bring myself to seek creative misery.
Totally agree!
You would. The Comedy Denier. Sigh.
I am not a comedy denier. I like funny movies. There just are not many that are great. Chevy Chase a case in point. Ben Stiller another.
Fixed that for you.
How?
It now attests to your enjoyment of Chevy Chase!
No it doesn’t. It couldn’t because he is anathema to me. I don’t like him I detest him. He should be garotted on the guillotine of cinematic crap. Fix that bunty.
Fixed your previous comments hahaha
And what’s this slur on Scots? Hmm?
I don’t know what you mean. Have you got one?
The understandable comment about needing more Scots people to which you replied ‘Trust me, you really don’t…’
Shamed by you own words!
Comedy is probably the hardest genre of film to make well. I’m pretty picky about them myself. Though I just rewatched Top Secret with Val Kilmer and found myself guffawing at quite a few of the gags. Mission accomplished.
Normally I’m more of the subtle/sarcastic comedy lover – enjoying something like Wes Anderson’s Bottle Rocket over the piles of slapstick and spoof.
But, there’s a lot to dissect in why we are or aren’t laughing. I remember being a kid with my grandfather at a screening of Fort Apache: The Bronx and being horribly embarrassed by him bursting out with laughter as the cops threw a guy off a roof. :p
I remember we talked about Fort Apache, and yes, there’s a strange vive that some older films give off; some members of the audience crack up at surprising thinks. I saw Blues Brothers 2000 (don’t ask) in Portland at a matinee, and the man in front of me got to his feet and applauded every time Dan Ackroyd parked the car. I think Top Secret has some great gags, and do like how a spoof can just hit you with all manner of gags. Character comedy is a different kind of art….
I find that the misery seeks you out, no matter what films you choose. I’ve not spent enough time with bear cubs to know what kind of noise they make, so will take that note on board. And will mail you a box of DVD movies to cheer you up, starting with Garfield 2; A Tale of Two Kitties.
I would never want to deny anyone the pleasure of seeing Bjork hung! 🙂
Ah, yes, Dancer in the Dark, I saw that one with a themed party afterwards, although your comment suggests a brilliant festive decoration that wasn’t used at the time. Not the real person, obviously, a standee of her deeply frustrating character.
A THEMED PARTY?! please explain. And Yes now I’m trying to picture the Bjork ornament hung on high on St. Joseph’s Day. I will admit to having had something of a crush on the icelandic pixie back in the day (having been a fair Sugarcubes fan).
Another story for your enjoyment. A few years, ago during a viewing of the wildly popular, though entirely loose and indictable Game of Thrones, a young lass was staked a burned. My girlfriend of the day was tense and moaning with upset. I remarked from my haughty perch of disconnect, “What you didn’t enjoy that?” To which, of course, she screamed at me a bit. I insisted that it was entertainment, obviously calculated and performed for our viewing pleasure. This was a remarkably unpopular opinion. But . . . there it is.
Edinburgh Film Festival felt that Dancer in the Dark was exactly the kind of hilarity that a gala party should be organised around; the year after, it was a genocide drama Rabbit Proof Fence that featured, with actual barbed wire displays on every dining table. Had to be seen to be believed.
OK, one more story. Guy is watching The Thing with his girlfriend and she talks non-stop about rubbish through all the icy vistas, dogs, helicopters, all the atmosphere and music of the first ten minutes. He asks her to be quiet and she says ‘Why, nothing’s happened yet!?’.
I definitely need more scots persons in my life!
Trust me, you really don’t.
Wut?
*waggles eyebrows*
REMOVE YOUR LIES IMMEDIATELY!! Doctoring a comment from the WP4 is a heinous crime and if you don’t sort it I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger for attempting to poison and destroy my reputation as a Chaser Hater. DO NOT DELAY!
I have edited his name out. Sigh.
I’m going now. You haven’t complied and I’m feeling violent. Me and a bottle of wine are going away to sulk. Good bye.
What? I deleted the whole thing ages ago apart from your insult. Refresh your browser. No excuse for boozing, not wine o clock for some time.
Ok I forgive you. You can delete my telling off now if you like. And of course we need more scotch people, especially the Glenfiddich clan. All mended now then. (It’s wine o clock here but I’m on Gateshead time.)
Phew. Apology accepted. I will not slander you further by associating you with CC. Drink a toast to Bonnie Scotland and everything is put right!
Ock eye! 😁
You could help plan our itinerary. Booky is sailing is yacht over and I’ll drive to to Leith and join him. We can pick you up in Gateshead and then head down to the Med to pick up Monsieur Alex. The moon has been ruled out as a destination, but otherwise, the world is our oyster! Discuss.
Ok. Not keen on oysters though, will pack some caramelised onions for the journey.
And some seasickness medicine, you know what the Captain is like…
Sea sickness medicine will be in the stores, I’m sure Cap’n has got full provisions in hand.
I have to agree that Chevy has oft left me disappointed. He’s best as a sort of everyman in trying circumstances, but he’s not particularly gifted with intrinsic hilarity, at least, to my sense of comedy. But then plenty of films wasted the talents of Richard Pryor and Robin Williams as well. It’s not ALWAYS their fault.
I guess not GR, but at least Pryor and Williams were funny in real life too. Chase never is.
Nature is merciful. Now there’s one I haven’t heard in a while….
You’re heard it now.
Yes I have. And I’m still shaking my head that anyone who has ever actually experienced nature could really think that.
Why, what is your experience of nature?
Brambles tearing flesh, bees and wasps stinging, turning of ankles on rocky slopes. Then add in the weather, oooh boy.
That’s why I live in the country, keeps the lightweights at bay…
And that’s why I live in a small town. Keeps nature at bay 😀
Maybe it would be merciful if you gave it a chance. I’ll surprise you with a grizzly bear in your bedroom and we’ll see how merciful it is. Fun experiment!
I’ve been part of nature for over 21 years now, I think I’ve given it plenty of chances.
Sounds like a GREAT experiment. Give me a chance to see how effective my carbine actually is (hint, against a grizzly, not very).
Great, I’ll come by with a bucket to pick up your remains in the morning. Monster drinks won’t save you!
I’m not sure even a suit of armor would save me from a grizzly trapped in a small room!
But there’s every chance the bear will be merciful to you! That’s how nature works. Either way, I’ll clean up the leftovers.
I wouldn’t place any bets on the bear’s mercy 🙂
Well, that would be a shame, as long as your injuries don’t stop you from your boating duties.
If the Bear mauls me nigh to death, you might have to accept Lucky the Lepreconn as your new cap’n. Hope you like sugary sweet breakfast cereal!
I keep coco pops for emergencies. Good luck with nature! Merciful nature, always has your back!
Talk to me about the merciful nature of Nature after I’ve had a dinner of mex-american food!
Is that how nature is gauged?
That’s how I measure it when I’m writhing with intestinal pain ;-/
And haggis is banned in your country…
So should mex-american! That stuff is dangerous….
Bears can act now, can they? What an age we live in.
Acting isn’t enough, they need a good agent and publicist to have any real chance in today’s marketplace.
It’s a tough world out there. Getting representation in the first place must be the real challenge. From there I reckon they can bloom.
And finding the right script.
Ah, of course. I’d be interested to know if any bears have actually gone in to screenwriting.
Yogi Bear is a writer/director and usually funnels work through his own company.
He’s certainly smarter than the average bear.
Boom boom, Boo boo!
Paddington has done well for himself.
Very true. Rupert Bear?
Ted also got a couple of films.
I raise you Winnie The Pooh. An absolute legend.
Baloo was fun to hang out with. Better than that nasty beast in The Revenant anyway.
Bit of an outdated stereotypical view of bears…
Which? Baloo or Mr. Revenant?
Both. Bears have moved on from these outdated overplayed media figures.
He’s a bit silly really, just eats honey and sits about.
I’m sorry than Winnie isn’t such an outstanding actor as your supposed ones in The Bear. He got the job done.
Hate to break it to you, but he’s just a cartoon.
Reopen the investigation! This aggressive, standoffish and quite frankly untrue statement deserves full examination!
Sorry, he’s fictional. No refunds.
You’ve ruined my day. I hope you feel good about yourself.
Always. That’s why I have this blog. To ruin your dreams and big myself up.
None of these have the talents of Fozzie Bear, he can play the piano and sing and dance!
Wocka wocka!
😀
I got mine in first!
He is an amazing dancing beat. Wakka Wakka, this time for Africa!
Wasn’t that Wakanda?
Fozzie Bear is, undeniably, a good bear. But where would he be without Kermit? Nowhere, I tell you. Nowhere.
Behind every successful bear is a surprised frog.
Oh nope, that looks upsetting. Kind of like a Bear Bambi.
I know people bang on about Bambi being a shock to the system, but that’s because they’re kids being shown a cartoon. This does the same job but for adults. But look into bear cub’s eyes, you can’t say NOPE to him, can you?
Yep. If Alex cried at it I think I would be a right mess. Not doing it.
He’s a big baby, though.
Haha so am I, I have been know to cry at adverts before now.
Adverts for what? Betting shops and joining the army? That’s all I ever get, during Seinfeld as well. I can’t see why the audience for Seinfeld would want to do either of these things, or be good at them.
Nope, adverts sometimes do the heartstring thing, you know, Mum’s kid going off to college, boy has to give up his dog, that kind of thing. Actually it’s mostly dogs I cry because of, can’t cope if a dog dies in anything. Wouldn’t have watched John Wick if I’d known about that bit.
No Chaos Walking for you then.
Thanks for the heads up!
This was a sad one. I think I cried.
It is sad, even the trailer is sad, but bears are living happily in the wild every day without camera on them and I bet they have a good time, so that’s something.
Are there bears in Scotland?
Big ones that would make you cry if they get a chance. How about in France?
Of course France has bears.
According to the Internets there are no bears in Scotland. You are a fantasist.
You come over hear and you’ll be ripped apart by bears like Hercules. Famous Scottish bear. Do you have access to tinternet?
My old cat was called Hercules.
Was he a big boy?
Yep a lovely cat, miss him loads.
Changes subject quickly; did that ruin John Wick for you? He gets another dog.
That was the redeeming factor. And then the fabulous Halle Berry alsations were a joy in the 3rd.
They looked fake to me.
No way!
Yes way.
Don’t diss the doggys! https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2465624/halle-berry-actually-trained-the-dogs-in-john-wick-3
Fake news. Clearly cgi.
As a movie reviewer critic person I would think it is beneath you to be fibber dibber about such things. five Belgian Malinois and five Belgian Shepherds. REAL!
But sampled and manipulated, doggies don’t do these things…
You’re talking rubbish.
Halle Berry’s dogs look fake. FACT.
Well theyr are not. FACT!
Referee!
Don’t need one. There are many many interviews with Ms. Berry about the dogs and how she got involved with their training. You are accusing her of lies and deception, not a good look for a movie critic person. Best hope she doesn’t visit this blog. (Not that she ever would of course).
She’s reading it right now and saying look at the horse’s legs, it’s all CGI.
No-one is talking about horses are they? Bears and dogs and the odd frog. No horses in this post.
Terrible way to talk about Alex, I’m grassing you up to the ‘odd frog’ himself.
Alex knows I didn’t mean him. You’re just trying to make trouble. Fail.
Keep diggin!
Was he a Nemean Lion?
Nope more like the cowardly Lion in the somewhere over the rainbow movie.
Prison drama Oz?
That’s it! Wizard of Oz. Don’t remember the prison bit.
Just the one in my head.
Ok, we’ll, if you get access to the real thing, look up Hercules the Scottish bear and tell me who is the fantasist.
*sigh*
Obviously I meant bears in the wild. Hercules was even born in captivity.
Plus, he’s dead.
Did I say he was alive? Nitpicking. Born in Scotland, Bunty, obviously not fitting in with your neo liberalist agenda.
Did he have the necessities though?
The bare necessities of life will come to you.
Yep, they’ve already been, I’m good.
Phew!
“Are there bears in Scotland?” That was the question. Present tense. Not “Were there bears in Scotland?” Reading comprehension. Even film reviewers have to practice it. You must have a fun time with subtitles.
Sore loser, much, eh Bunty? I’ve seen bears in Scotland and they eat French film critics for breakfast. Satisfied?
You’re thinking of these bears:
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bear
I’m sure some of them do eat French film critics, but that’s not what I’m talking about.
As a proud Englishman who knows more about other people’s countries than themselves, I can tell you there are no bears in Scotland and there are only a handful in France – nearly none. So neither of you have bears. Do you know what else you both don’t have? A giant lizard Vs a giant monkey review. What’s that about? Luckily we have the Telegraph over here.
My blog, like Woody Guthrie’s guitar, kills fascists, so no Torygraph required.
“Nature is merciful and does not try her children, man or beast, beyond their compass. It is only when the cruelty of man intervenes that hellish torments appear. For the rest, live dangerously, take things as they come. Fear naught, all will be well.”
— Boris Johnson. Pretty sure he’s your favourite politician, right? Certainly have the same views.
Stopped clock is right twice a day…