Review: "Polar Bear"

The Disneynature Film Company was founded on April 21st, 2008, 14 years ago, in Paris. In that time, they have produced 13 documentaries, each of which have been released either on Earth Day or some point throughout the month of April; and all featuring celebrity narration. Most of their films were given theatrical releases, though there were also a few exclusively on Disney+. The first Disneynature film was Earth and it was released on April 22nd, 2009, narrated by Disney/voice-over legend, James Earl Jones. The first Disneynature on Disney+ was Dolphin Reef released on April 3rd, 2020, narrated by Natalie Portman. On April 22nd, 2022, Disneynature released Polar Bear. Here’s my review of this film:

Shot is Svalbard, Norway, this film depicts the story of a “single mother” polar bear and her fraternal twin cubs (a son and daughter). The narration is told from the perspective of the daughter as she talks about how her mother becomes both her and her brother’s refuge teaching them everything a polar needs to learn: how to swim, how to hunt food, how to survive during a climate change, etc. We also learn that cubs must avoid grown male polar Bears because they feed on cubs when there isn’t enough food.

Co-directed by Alastair Fothergill (who co-directed Disneynature’s Bears (2014)) and Jeff Wilson (who co-directed Disneynature’s Penguins (2019)), “Polar Bear,” is a heartwarming documentary. Written by David Fowler (writer of Disneynature’s Born in China (2016) and Elephant (2020)), it also acknowledges the harmful impact of climate change throughout the year. Heat in spring and summer leads to malnutrition and/or starvation and it also causes their icy habitats to melt.

As in all Disneynature films, “Polar Bear,” is beautifully shot. It features scenes with the bears moving around on mountainsides, hopping on top of ice caps and even swimming in the water. Wherever they are, the cubs adorableness never ceases. There are also lots of gorgeous wide shots of the ice as well. 

The film’s narration was provided by Catherine Keener, who is also known for voicing the ruthless Evelyn Deavor in Disney/Pixar’s Incredibles 2 (2018). The film’s music was composed by Harry Gregson-Williams who received a Golden Globe Nomination for scoring Disney’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005). The film’s Cinematography was done by Rolf Steinmann and James Ewen. Steinmann did the Cinematography on “Born in China,” and Disneynature’s Penguins (2019), and Ewen, who did the Cinematography for an episode of the BBC Series Seven Worlds, One Planet (2019). Fothergill and Wilson co-produced the film with Jason Roberts, Keith Scholey, and Roy Conli.

All in all, whether you’re a fan of polar bears or not, “Polar Bear,” is an enjoyable documentary. Like all of Disneynature’s films, it’s a fascinating glimpse of real life and teaches you things you more than likely never knew. I believe this film’s purpose was to inform people of how rough the polar bear experience is. It also brings him the impact of climate change. If this moves you, Spoiler Alert: There is a website at the end of the film to facilitate your donation.