The Shepherd and the Bear
2024
Certificate 15 – DOCUMENTARY
Director: Max Keegan
Runtime: 101 mins
In the French Pyrenees, a traditional shepherding community faces the reintroduction of brown bears. An ageing shepherd struggles to find a successor as bears prey on his flock, while a teenage boy becomes obsessed with tracking the bears. This immersive documentary is a meditation on tradition, conflict, and our evolving relationship with nature.
WHY WATCH THIS FILM? It’s stunningly beautiful
“The mountains provide an awesome backdrop to the drama being played out on their slopes. Dense mists, torrential rain and dramatic thunderstorms also add to the tension created by Amine Bouhafa’s spooky soundtrack.” The Arts Desk
“Director Max Keegan has made a mesmerizing, beautifully shot and eye-opening emotional journey that’s also somewhat gripping and breathtaking at times. He opts for a fly-on-the-wall approach without talking-heads which makes for an immersive and cinematic experience. . . Most importantly, Keegan captures the majestic beauty and poetry of nature in the Pyrenees which speak louder than words.” NYC Movie Guru