The Great Bear – Den kæmpestore bjørn (2011)

Directed by: Esben Toft Jacobsen | 73 minutes | drama, animation, adventure, family, fantasy | Dutch voice cast: Lotte Kuijt, Machiel Verbeek, Ivan Pecnik, Jan Nonho | Original voice cast: Markus Rygaard, Alberte Blichfeldt, Flemming Quist Møller, Elith Nulle Nykjær

It is well known that there are beautiful drama films from Denmark. For example, the Scandinavians won the Oscar for best non-English language film with Susanne Bier’s ‘In a Better World’ (2010), and the films by Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg and Anders Thomas Jensen are also regularly showered with prizes. It is less known that the Danes can also make very nice animation films. Esben Toft Jacobsen sets the tone with the exciting ‘The great bear’ (2010). It is only the talented Dane’s second film, after the 45-minute ‘Carsen & Gitte’s Movie Madness’, but his limited experience is hardly noticeable. ‘The Great Bear’ is brimming with action and adventure and offers 75 minutes of entertainment for both young and old.

Eleven-year-old Jonathan and his younger sister Sophie go to stay with their grandfather, who lives on the edge of a dark forest. Although their grandfather strictly forbids them to enter the forest, Sophie ends up in the forbidden area after an argument with her brother. Jonathan goes after her and discovers that his sister has befriended a giant brown bear, which she soon names ‘Big Fridjof’. Although the imposing appearance of the animal initially instills fear, the bear turns out to have a heart of gold. Jonathan discovers that their new friend is in danger as a vengeful hunter targets ‘Big Fridjof’. It’s up to the kids to protect the bear. They get help from the other animals in the forest.

Of course, today’s movie audience is spoiled with the dazzlingly beautiful computer animations of Pixar and DreamWorks. It wouldn’t be fair to compare ‘The Great Bear’ to the multimillion-dollar productions that those studios come up with. Those who judge the film on its own merits will recognize that Jacobsen does a very nice job. He may fall short in terms of the human figures, but he more than makes up for it with the atmosphere sketch of the dark forest and its colorful inhabitants. A flock of wisecracking crows, an army of funny mini-moose and a group of rain-inducing frogs (with a nod to ‘Magnolia’ (1999)?) help them on their way. But the immense bear, which has grown half a forest on its back, absolutely steals the show. It seems that Jacobsen has given his protagonist extra attention, because ‘Big Fridjof’ is by far the best developed animation. Also pay attention to the sound effects every time the bear shows up.

Of course, a film like this only works if the story appeals to the imagination and in that respect ‘The Great Bear’ is fine. The adventure that Jonathan and Sophie go through may not be very original, but once the story gets going you let yourself be carried away without any hesitation. With ‘The Great Bear’, Jacobsen shows that you can also make a charming and exciting animation film with a relatively small budget that appeals to young and old. We are already looking forward to his next movie!