Product Details

• Actors: Marlon Vilstrup, Joachim Boje Helvang, Otto Brandenburg, Paprika Steen, Tommy Kenter
• Directors: Jannik Hastrup
• Format: Collector's Edition, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Central Park Media
• DVD Release Date: February 8, 2005
• Run Time: 74 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0006JML2A
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,094 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #37 in	Movies & TV > Art House & International > By Original Language > Danish
  #49 in	Movies & TV > Anime & Manga > By Studio > Central Park Media
  #70 in	Movies & TV > Art House & International > By Original Language > Swedish

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This mystical film from Danish director Jannik Hastrup tells the story of a polar bear couple who, after losing their stillborn cub, steal a baby boy to raise as their own. Mother bear names him "Little Bear" and, in time, teaches him to survive in the snow, catch fish from the river, and defend himself against wolves. The mother knows, however, that the happiness they share will not last forever--that eventually the boy's father will search for, and find, his son. When the father finally does "rescue" his son, returning him to the company of humans, the boy unwillingly lives with them as a wild misfit who struggles with his dual identity. Finally, he escapes to make a journey to the Spirit of the Mountain to determine who he really is. On one level, this is an enchanting story of a mother's sustaining love, yet the stronger message underscores the fragility of the relationship between man and beast. The stunning animation resembles watercolor paintings in motion, and the haunting musical melodies add a dialogue of their own. (Ages 10 and older) --Lynn Gibson

Product Description
A mother bear's cub dies in the Arctic wild, and her mate steals a human boy to be their son. The mother bear loves the child more with each passing day, and he grows as wild and free as the strongest bear. When the boy's human father arrives to take him back, the child must choose his own destiny. Can he return to humankind, or will his heart forever be the heart of a beast? Collector's Series Edition DVD Features: Anamorphic Widescreen Format, Interviews with the English Language Cast, Original Theatrical Trailer, The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Bear Background Information, Arctic Trivia Quiz, English & French whth English Subtitles, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Mythic Tale about Choices, February 26, 2005

By	BlaskoFilms (Coon Rapids, MN United States) - See all my reviews

"The Boy Who Wanted to be a Bear" is one of the most engrossing and magical animated feature-length films of recent memory. It's the story of a wild boy caught between two opposing worlds -- the village of men and the land of animals. In each, there are reasons to stay and reasons to leave, but the power of love helps to lead him toward his ultimate decision.

The soundtrack is marvelous (composed by the artist who scored Winged Migration and Himalaya), and helps to give the film some additional spirit. The animation is simple, yet powerful and rich -- the scenes have the youthful look of magic marker imposed over watercolor backdrops, and yet, because of this, the characters feel more real. The pace of the story is perhaps a bit too brisk at times, but overall this is a masterful film. I think that you and your children will enjoy this as much my the folks in our house did.

A word to the wise: purchase the Collector's Edition so that you'll have the option of the English audio track as well as the beautiful, original French audio track. It's a shame when studios consider original languages to be "extras."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of a kind!, June 30, 2007

By	Lisa M. Whitesell "Earth Momma" (Dayton, Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Bear (DVD)

Beautiful film! My 4 and 5 year olds loved it. I loved the cultural aspect to it that is so hard to find. In reference to the violence, it's not any more violent than Disney's Lion King.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definately not a Disney Move, May 3, 2005

By	L. Jonsson (Charleston, SC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Bear (DVD)

Very surreal and dreamy picture about a boy taken from his parents by grief stricken bears who want to raise him as their son. He grows up, his Father reclaims him, and his struggle to become part of the wild again begins. A fantastic film, probably a little better for older children.