“Bear” tells the story of a young girl named Mila and her struggle with depression, represented by a large, physical bear.
The film aims to be a metaphorical representation of mental illness, specifically depression, and the silent struggle it can cause for a young person.
Nobody should have to deal with the weight of mental illness alone, and it should be a topic that people feel comfortable talking about, stigma and judgement free.
It gets easier to talk about a struggle when you have others around you.
Children may have an easier time relating to and explaining their feelings after seeing “Bear,” and the film may help them understand a struggling friend, family member, or even themselves.
When Mila is visited late at night by a large blue bear, the bumbling and cumbersome animal soon proves to be a constant weight in her life. Mila’s world begins to collapse around her as she is unable to push away this bear that intrudes in her life, keeping her from her day-to-day activities, and causing her relationships to fall apart.
As she learns what this bear is, Mila begins to accept it into her life, and quite literally, “bear” its weight.
Mila’s seemingly all-put-together best friend, Mae, reveals to her that she, too, has her own animal, just like Mila’s bear, that she has been trying to hide. Her’s however, takes the form of a pink rabbit.
By the close of the film, we see a unique portrayal that shows how many others around us each day have mental health struggles, even those we may least expect. Everyone’s struggle may show up in different ways, unique to each of us. It is so important to open up a dialogue about them together.
Nobody is alone in their struggle.
