Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud and written by Gérard Brach, The Bear is a 1988 French-American adventure film adapted from the novel by James Oliver Curwood. Starring Tchéky Karyo, Jack Wallace, and André Lacombe, it depicts the encounter between a bear cub and an adult grizzly bear in the mountains. The feature film, rated PG, will be available on Disney+ on November 7, 2025.
After the accidental death of his mother, the young bear cub Youk wanders alone in the wilderness. He meets Kodiak Kaar, an adult bear who is initially wary of him. A protective relationship develops between them as human hunters lurk in their wild environment.
Produced by Claude Berri, The Bear was filmed in the Italian and Austrian Alps. The sequences required several months of training for the bear actors. The film confirmed the naturalistic mastery of Jean-Jacques Annaud, already recognized for Quest for Fire. His direction earned the film numerous César Award nominations.
The contemplative tone and the narrative focused on survival and learning make it a family-friendly and sensory story, aimed at viewers who are drawn to nature and classic animal films.
TheBear
Film | 1988
On Disney+ November 7, 2025
Adventure, Drama | Running time: 1h40
By Jean-Jacques Annaud | Starring Tchéky Karyo, Jack Wallace, André Lacombe
Original title: The Bear
Nationality: France, United States
A symbol of 1980s animal cinema, The Bear joins the Disney+ catalog in a restored version.
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