To commemorate Earth Day, Disney+ invites its viewers to embark on an adventure in a faraway land. Now, with warmer temps in the near future, you might think that you’ll be virtually basking in the sun, perhaps on a white island beach, or trekking through a lush jungle. Well, that’s not the plan as these talented filmmakers follow the remarkable life of a pretty remarkable and resilient creature. And the weather does play a big part in this film, you might even consider it another character. That’s because of its now radically changing aspects, forcing the title animal to go to more creative and extreme links to survive. that’s because it is now tougher than ever to be a POLAR BEAR.
It begins with a mother and daughter “ice bear” on the move, swimming in search of the next elusive meal. We soon learn that the story’s focus is not on the cub, but on the mama, whose narrative voice is provided by Catherine Keener. The story flashes back in time to when the mother was a cub herself, part of an ever-wandering trio with her twin brother and protective mom. It’s springtime in the Arctic, when she must try to gather enough food to keep them alive through the winter. Mother teaches the twins to swim, making their way from one floating chunk of ice to the next (in the next season those chunks will be further apart and smaller). She’s got to grab a sea lion while it sunbathes ashore since it’s far too fast underwater. But life is not just “schooling” for the cubs as they need to keep their distance from ravenous adult male bears who see them as easy and delicious prey. Later they’ll set their sites on nesting birds, beluga whales, and a walrus herd (hoping to get their “younguns” since the adults are enormous). We witness the beauty of those dancing northern lights in their green and purple hues. The ensuing season becomes more desperate as the trio dines on seaweed to fuel their long march across the mud, where once the ice glistened. The family experiences triumph and tragedy leading to a final split that sends the now teenage female cub to wander alone until she begins her own family. Thus we get that “circle of life” when the story picks up back where it began with the always on-the-hunt duo, battling hunger and a climate that seems to be getting warmer with every new year.
So, is this film as ‘family-friendly” as the other recent feature docs from the Disneynature imprint? Well, yes and no, which is a good thing. This is a more serious, somber, and reflective offering as it attempts to do “double’ narrative duty. First and foremost it’s a chronicle of the everyday endeavors of these incredible creatures. But then, entering in during several engrossing sequences is a look at the impact of the now rapidly-changing climate. It’s jarring to see that gorgeous white fur smeared with sticky mud, a coating that clings even as they swim to the tiniest of floating ice sheets. In these scenes, the film is the perfect fit for Earth Day. The direction from the team of Alastair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson has an elegant grace, cutting from long overhead shots (drones are put to great use) and closer, more intimate framing (a sequence of distant death is so haunting). Much of the film’s power comes from the stunning photography of another team, James Ewen and Rolf Steinmann (which sends a cold numb feeling through my fingers just thinking about it). And it’s all held together tonally by the nuanced and never-overpowering music score from Harry Gregson-Williams. Also setting the proper dramatic tone is the compelling narration by Keener. She’s not resorting to funny voices (which detracted from the previous features), even eschewing giving the bears human or anthropomorphic names. She uses her voice much like any instrument in the orchestra, accentuating and pausing to add even more power to the superb imagery (those glowing night skies are more mesmerizing than any CG-created effect). And as I mentioned earlier there are scenes of death and hunting, but the more grisly aspects are discreetly out of camera view. And those stalking scenes of mama bear easing up on the sea lions are pure suspense. Though many youngsters see them as seasonal soda pitchmen, the film will show them the real wonder and drama in the life of the often lonely POLAR BEAR.
3.5 Out of 4
POLAR BEAR streams exclusively on Disney+ beginning on Friday, April 22, 2022
