Cinema
The Bear
L'Ours
Jean-Jacques Annaud · 1988
Synopsis
In 1885, in the mountains of British Columbia, a bear cub, Youk, loses his mother, crushed by a rockslide. Left to himself, he meets a large male bear, Kaar, who at first drives him off, then takes him under his protection and teaches him to survive. Two hunters, on the trail of the big bear whose pelt they covet, track them across the mountain.
Context
The film adapts The Grizzly King, a novel by the American James Oliver Curwood published in 1916. It was shot almost entirely in the Dolomites, between Italy and Austria, and the big bear was played by Bart, a trained bear already seen in many American films. With almost no dialogue and little music, the narrative stays as close as possible to the animals. Restored in 4K, the film was re-released in cinemas in France on 26 October 2022.
Who it is for
An almost silent film, seen from an animal's point of view; some hunting and fighting scenes may impress younger viewers.
Prizes and reception
More than nine million admissions in France, the second biggest hit of 1988; César for Best Director and for Best Editing.
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