l'Ours (1988)

 This is one of those films that left an indelible imprint upon my young brain. I saw it in cinemas and even as an 8-year-old couldn't understand how on Earth they got the bears to do what they're doing here, which is act. It still is to this day one of the most heartwarming and beautiful films I have ever seen.

And it's about two bears and barely no dialogue whatsoever and it doesn't even matter.

A little cub loses his mom at the start of this adventure as she is buried beneath a rockslide. The little one sets out to try and survive and crosses paths with a massive male, who has just been shot in the shoulder by two hunters. They bond and the big male is now the surrogate father of the little fuzzball. Meanwhile, the two hunters call for backup with dogs and plan to take down the big male. They even capture the little one at one point, but when the massive male decides not to kill one of the hunters when he has the chance, this guy gets a change of heart. It all ties into the quote at the end, that letting one live is fare more valuable than killing. The final shot is that of the two bears sound asleep in a cave as winter creeps across the mountains. 

Jean-Jacques Annaud doesn't make things easy for himself. He already directed 'La Guerre du Feu' about prehistoric man and always wants to make things as realistic and accurate as possible. Now he centres the entire story around a baby bear. This must have been grueling to shoot. But the result is undeniably on the screen. You'll instantly fall in love with the little furball. 

Oh, and if you recognize the big male: that makes sense. He has been shown in quite a number of films and you will recognize him by his slurring lower lip. 

This is life seen through the eyes of bears and it is glorious. Sure, you can argue that some of the reactions the animals give are a little too 'human', but you need an emotional anchor somewhere. Its also cool to note that the human hunters are only a part of the story and not the focal point. 

The cinematography is top notch, and every shot is pure eyecandy. It helps that they shot this in British Columbia, where most landscapes look straight out of a fantasy folder, but hey. Good use of the environment. 

It's hard to talk about this film, because it is one of those tales that has stood the test of time and will endear anyone (or almost anyone) to it. Yes, the dreamsequences are a little weird and stand out, but beside that, there are few faults.

Okay, male bears do not 'adopt' cubs in the wild. They eat them. But then this would have been a short enterprise and not nearly as much fun. 

I'd go as far as to call this a 'must watch'.