Review of Brother Bear (2003) by Tatiana B — 31 Aug 2010

It is a moving story about three brothers, each of them is given a totem by a woman shaman of their tribe. The youngest one after the initiation receives his totem, which represents Love. He is pretty disappointed as he doesn?t feel this is what he is looking for in his search of manhood. A tragic accident happens and the oldest of the brothers gets killed by a bear. The youngest one takes on revenge and goes on a hunt for the bear. By the magic of indigenous ways the youngest brother gets turned into a bear himself. To become a man again he has to live like a bear until he completes his journey to a sacred mountain to meet with his older brother?s spirit. On his way he meets a bear cub, Coda who helps him to understand a brotherly love that unites every living creature in the world. At the end the youngest brother has to make a decision to become a man or stay a bear.

Brother Bear is not only entertaining, full of action and beautiful art and music work movie, but an insight into indigenous ways culture. The movie represents union between worlds of men, animals and spirits. It shows a deep connection between all living creatures and importance of understanding our roots as a part of the world around us.