La Pelle Dell'Orso. (The Secret of The Bear). 2016 92 mins 8/10
I think something got lost in the translation from Italian, as there didn't appear to any secret attached to the bear. The bear in question is a loner that has returned after many years to terrorize the village of Coste, high in the mountains of Venetto. After its reappearance the local villagers are at a loss as to what to do next. In steps Pietro Sieff (Marco Paolini who also co-wrote the screenplay). Sieff, like the bear, is also a loner, a surly widower with a 14 year old son Domenico (Leonardo Mason). Or more correctly he can be seen as an outcast, part-time drunk and the villager loser. He takes on a bet to rid the village of the bear. He sets out alone, but his son soon decides to join him in the hunt. On the way to catch up to his father young Domenico meets Sara (Lucia Mascino) a friend of his dead mother. Their meeting has him wondering about his mother and how she died.
Pietro keeps mostly to himself, but as the pair climb higher into the mountains, they begin the process of getting to know each other better. The dialogue is sparse, as is the action. This is a movie about the development of a relationship that had looked strained when in the village. While life at the village level is harsh, the villages in the region are postcard pretty, and the towering mountain landscapes that dominate the area are stunning and memorable. Paolini is outstanding as Sieff, in a largely unsympathetic role, while Mason grows into his role more as the movie progresses. The direction is lyrical, unhurried and unobtrusive, allowing the small cast time and space in which to develop their roles. Overall, a commendable and different style of film.
