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The Bear
L'Ours
1988 97 min France, United States of America PG 12+
★8.0
Adventure, Drama, Family
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
🎭 Based on
«The Grizzly King»
byJames Oliver Curwood
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
An orphan bear cub hooks up with an adult male as they try to dodge human hunters.
Budget:
$25M
US Gross:
$31.75M
Worldwide:
$138.24M
Starring
Tchéky Karyo
Actor
Bart the Bear
Actor
Youk the Bear
Actor
Awards
César Awards 1989
— Best Director
César Awards 1989
— Best Cinematography
César Awards 1989
— Best Sound
César Awards 1989
— Best Poster
Academy Awards 1990
— Best Film Editing
BAFTA 1990
— Best Cinematography
César Awards 1989
— Best Picture
Key opinion
L'Ours is widely celebrated for its technical mastery, particularly the awe-inspiring practical animal performances and stunning cinematography that immerse viewers in the wild. While many consider it an emotionally powerful masterpiece, it remains divisive due to its graphic depictions of violence and its heavy reliance on anthropomorphism.
| Cinematography | The cinematography is universally acclaimed for its stunning, immersive capture of the wilderness. | |
| Acting | The lead animal performer, Bart the bear, delivers an incredibly convincing and charismatic performance that overshadows the human actors. | |
| Production | The film's use of real animal training achieves remarkable feats of performance that modern audiences find both authentic and awe-inspiring. | |
| Accessibility | Viewers are split on the film's suitability for younger audiences, as some find its blend of nature documentary and brutal violence inappropriate for children. | |
| Theme | The heavy use of anthropomorphism—projecting human-like dreams and complex morality onto the bears—is praised as deeply touching by some, while others reject it as scientifically inaccurate and distracting. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the pacing vary, with some finding the wordless, contemplative storytelling hypnotic and others finding it monotonous or boring. |