Product Details

• Actors: Eric Meyers
• Directors: Michael Johnson
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: December 8, 2009
• Run Time: 86 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002NTDXOQ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,337 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

You’ll fall in love with Knut, the world’s most famous polar bear, in this true-life story of the adorable cub who overcame overwhelming odds to survive. Come along as a caring Berlin zookeeper takes the baby bear under his wing – feeding him by bottle, giving him tub baths and a nice cuddle, and even jumping into the water with him for a swim lesson. Contrasted with the harsh reality of life in the Arctic for a trio of polar bear newborns and the endearing adventures of two orphaned brown bears getting into all kinds of mischief, this stirring, beautifully photographed journey of family, survival and love will touch your heart.

Stills from Knut & Friends (Click for larger image)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do yourself a favour, buy this!, December 26, 2009

By 

M. Dawson "gadget geek" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Knut & Friends [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

Just a fantastic story of a polar bear cub being raised in a German Zoo due to the keepers worring his actual parents would harm him, hes so cute and shows the dedication of zoo staff that need to treat Knut like a human baby.
Also covers orphan bears in the wild and two more polar bears being raised in the wild by their mother.
I own 200 blu rays and this has automatically made my top 5!
Great pictures in HD, worth the purchase for sure

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute bears will steal your heart away, May 15, 2010

By 

Daniel G. Lebryk (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Knut & Friends (DVD)

Knut and Friends is a sweet, beautifully photographed film about bears in three very different locations. The title polar bear, Knut, was born in the Berlin zoo and raised by humans. The film follows triplet polar bears born under the arctic snow, and twin orphaned brown bears in Belarus. The story is told from the point of view of the wind, via pleasant voice over narration.

The three stories of early life and survival are nicely interwoven. The arctic filming is by far the most beautiful. This is one film where I wish the DVD included a short making of featurette. The early footage of the three baby polar bears in the den are remarkable, I wonder how they were filmed.

On the one hand this is a sweet pretty movie, bears are majestic animals. On the other hand it is sad to see a polar bear cub raised by humans. It is hard to think of animals held captive in a zoo. That paradox aside, this is a great movie to build awareness of bears and seems to have its heart in the right place. .

Knut is apparently a very famous bear. Born in 2006, raised by Thomas Dorflein and others, he became a celebrity, drawing huge numbers of visitors to the zoo, a Vanity Fair cover by Annie Leibovitz, and raised animal rights issues along with a lot of money. As a full grown bear, Knut is not nearly as popular, (sadly the fate of most child actors). His caretaker Thomas Dorflein died of a heart attack in 2008, the film is dedicated to him.

The film is not rated. It seems about the equivalent of a PG film. The film does carry the Family Approved dove seal. There is no strong language, no nudity (well except that none of the animals have clothes), and no violence (there is a scene of the brown bears catching and eating fish in a stream). This is a family friendly film.

For a type of documentary, this is one of best shot and clearest films around. The film crew is to be congratulated for a job incredibly well done, lighting, exposure, focus, steadiness of the cameras, and sound. The music ranges from sweet to annoying. A few songs are repeated a few too many times, almost to the point of annoyance.

Knut and Friends is a nice family friendly movie that quietly gets its message across. We enjoyed this film very much.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good night, sweet prince., March 30, 2011

By 

Frank Lee - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knut & Friends [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

all of the love your mother never gave you - you gave to us. you were a beautiful, miracle bear and so generous with your time. thank you always.