L'OURS (The Bear,1988) **1/2 It's amazing that anyone can make this work, and Jean-Jacques Annaud makes it look easy. An entire story, replete with plot and moral, told from the point of view of a bear cub, but without having it speak human. I wouldn't have thought that a young bear life was full of so many things that could be communicated to me, but now I see. It's that kind of film. Of course there are no car chases, and the secondary humans are arguably too simple or complex, but it keeps right on rolling along, without ever getting dull or feeling contrived. Ah, come on. Bear dreams? Edging towards reality and hallucination? As if you won't allow any films about human activity that can't be objectively demonstrated. So, basically all of history is off limits? It's not that this couldn't have happened, it's that it no doubt happened all the time, still does in one form or another, and so it's good of us to bother noticing.
back to Brilliant Observations on 1776 Films page, or Index
go back home, or send me email
Reviews won't do it any more! I need sustained brilliance! I want to buy your novel!