The Bear (1988)

Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. Starring Bart, Youk, Tchéky Karyo, Jack Wallace. [PG]

A wounded grizzly bear and an orphaned cub are tracked across the late-1800s wilderness of British Columbia by a pair of determined trophy hunters (Karyo, Wallace). Involving fable, with harsh, sweeping vistas beautifully captured by Philippe Rousselot’s camera, and well-trained animals giving affecting performances (a campaign was even launched for Bart the Bear to get an Oscar nomination (!), though it was summarily dismissed). Hardly any dialogue to speak of, arising primarily during cutaways to the hunters when they’re not in close pursuit or survey, which are more distracting than enlightening. Efforts to provide the bears with slightly more human qualities for the sake of audience sympathy and understanding sometimes ring false, and the surreal dream sequences feel completely out of place and unnecessary, but the feat of pure cinematic technique is impressive and the basic struggle on display is strong enough to carry interest all the way to the quietly profound (if not altogether believable) conclusion. Filmed throughout the Dolemites in Italy and Austria.

71/100