THE BEAR. Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud; written by Gerard Brach, produced by Claude Berri for Tri-Star. Starring Bart and Douce (Bears) and Tcheky Karyo. Rated PG.
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Teddy Bears have been the "in" animal for several years now, but The Bear isn't aiming to cash in on that popularity. The bears that are its stars, for one thing, are Grizzlies, not Teddies. And though the juvenile version (Douce) is cute as a button, the adult (Bart) is 9'2" and 2,000 pounds—definitely too big to cuddle.
What makes The Bear different from the usual animal picture is that the bears are the stars, with the humans in supporting roles. The animals are actually actors, in a very real sense; in training, Bart had to "re-discover" instinctive bear behaviors like catching fish from a pond because he's used to having canned salmon.
The Bear isn't a documentary about bears, it's a story about bears. Two bears, in fact: a cub who is orphaned early on in the movie (not by hunters or in any such trite fashion, but in a thoroughly believeable accident); and an adult male whom the cub "adopts." Human hunters are in evidence (the story is set in 1885) and their reactions are important, particularly in conveying the movie's message. But the bears are the center of attention.
That message is a simple one—all creatures are worthy of respect—and it is revealed in a way that is low key, but extremely effective.
Young and old moviegoers alike will enjoy The Bear, unless they're just opposed to animal movies in the extreme (although this one is far from typical) or hopelessly addicted to high-octane action pix. In spite of the sparse dialogue, its important points of plot and character development are easy to discern.
Some of the shots of the cub may be a bit too cute, but overall, the moviemakers resisted the impulse toward sentimentality in admirable fashion. The movie's most touching moments combine originality and realism to create a unique cinematic experience.
November 8, 1989