Review of Brother Bear (2003) by Eddie P — 07 Sep 2012

This movie was about a irresponsible young man named Kenai. He is taught a life lesson in love and compassion when he is turned into a bear. Kenai wanted to get revenge for the death of his big brother. His brother was killed by a mother bear who was trying to protect her cub. Kenai kills the mother bear,so the ancestors turn him into a bear. Once he is turned into a bear he meets up with the bear cub of the mother bear. Kenai and the cub Kota get off to a rocky start but soon become brothers.

This movie has a lot of reference to indigenous sacred ways. One example of this is the ceremonies that deal with coming of age and death. Also, the movie has a Shaman in it. A lot of indigenous people believe in shaman to communicate to the ancestors and the spirits. Next, this tribe like a lot of other tribes respect the earth and the people and animals that inhabit it. There is also examples of kinship with all creation in this movie. There was also some animism/shamanism in this film. A example of this is the colorful lights in the sky that appear when the ancestors are near. The ancestors are always around watching over and protecting the people, animals, and land.

I loved this movie and I can't believe I had never seen it before. The most heart warming part of this movie was when Kenai made the decision to stay a bear so that Koda would not be alone . I also loved the representation of the spirits, how they were all animals. This movie in my opinion was a perfect way of helping someone understand primal religions. I would recommend this movie to anyone who would like an example of primal religion.