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The Bear, (1988) known as L'Ours in its original release, is a feature film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. The screenplay by Gérard Brach was adapted from the novel The Grizzly King by James Oliver Curwood.

Set in late 19th century British Columbia, Canada, the film tells the story of an orphaned bear cub befriended and protected by an adult male grizzly as hunters pursue them through the wilds.

Though the film did not enjoy overwhelming commercial success with its North American release, it was acclaimed in France, and was nominated for and won numerous international film awards.

I have selected two of my favorite video clips from this movie to show that even bears can behave than some people who can have the audacity of dragging people from their rightful seats and robbing the people of the government that they elected. Love, tolerance and the willingness to help in time of need prevail in the animal kingdom but not in another place where some behave worse than animals.

In the first clip. we see a grizzly bear cub (Douce) who is suffering from the death of his mother from a rock slide. Soon the young cub meets a large male grizzly (Bart the Bear) and attempts to soothe a bullet wound inflicted by a pair of hunters (Jack Wallace and Tcheky Karyo). A friendship forms between the two bears.





In the second clip, the bear cub is confronted by a cougar and tries to defend himself. As the cougar nears, the cub turns to find his older friend and protector. They embrace. A very moving scene indeed.

If even animals can seek to protect their own, why can't man learn to live in harmony with each other? Are they like the cougar, ever ready to pounce on their unsuspecting prey? Food for thought.