Historia de un oso

'BEAR STORY': Four Stars (Out of Five)

A beautiful 11 minute Chilean animated short film; about an elderly (lonely) bear, that tells his life story, to others, through a magical mechanical diorama. In this short, a young cub, gets to witness his epic journey. The Oscar nominated short, was directed by Gabriel Osorio Vargas; and it was written by Vargas and Daniel Castro. The animation is breathtaking to watch, and the story is heartbreaking; and yet, it's also beautifully touching (especially at the end). Talk about oversharing though, that's what this short film is all about; and that's what makes it so memorable (and moving). I really enjoyed it.

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A bear, living in a world of bears, shows a nickelodeon kind of show, using mechanical characters, to a little bear child. It is obviously the story of his life and hard times. At some time in the past, he and other animals have been taken to a circus where they are forced to humiliate themselves in front of paying customers. They are treated cruelly and beaten at times. But he has the memory of his family to drive him onward. This gives us a view of the cruelty that we foist on others time and again. The animation is superb.

This Chilean film is from Gabriel Osorio Vargas and is the story of a bear who is stolen from his family and forced to perform in the circus. What makes this one so memorable is the way the story is told...as a story within a story that is being told through automatons built by a bear!

The Computer graphics, though very nice, are probably the reason I'd list this as my second favorite of the nominees. It's nice...but these days I've seen quite a few CGI films that are frankly better looking. A lovely film but not quite good enough to earn the Oscar for Best Animated Short in my opinion. I'll be sure to update this review to let you know if it wins, though with a Pixar short and Don Hertzfeldt's short, I think "Bear Story" has a difficult and less likely chance to win the award.

UPDATE: "Bear Story" did win. Didn't guess right this year!

This beautiful film likely emerged from the shadows of the atrocities Chile's Augusto Pinochet meted out on his own citizens. The nested narratives include mechanized henchmen, innocent victims, stars (likely representing the souls of the disappeared), and a longing for a wholeness that is forever lost. I use this film in teaching sessions and have watched it many times; I seem something new and surprising with every viewing.

I am not surprised that this film is winning so many awards. Beautifully animated and seamlessly structured, it works as a solid story for both children and adults. It is very enjoyable as a tale of a bear struggling to reunite with his wife and son. But darker themes lace the story - paralleling real world state brutality, animal abuse, and capitalistic exploitation - as do elements of love, loss, and the unconquerable human (or bear) spirit.

If the author of Wicked decided to make a silent animated short film with the brilliant minds over at Pixar, they would probably make something as wonderful as Bear Story.