The Her­mit and the Bear

Delphine Maury (writer-producer) and Marine Blin (writer-director) took part in Le Groupe Ouest’s Annual Selection in 2020 for the development of this animated feature film, adaptation from John Yeoman and Quentin Blake’s novel.

Synopsis

The bear is alone and very sad when he stumbles across an old hermit. A former teacher, the hermit has withdrawn from the world to live in a cave in the heart of the forest. He doesn’t miss society at all, but has a passion for teaching. When bear shows up at his door, desperate to learn, the hermit takes on the challenge. He promises to teach bear how to become less stupid and clumsy, which is sure to gain him friends. As a result of this training, the bear receives a diploma. But the hermit is soon disillusioned : he will have to scale down his educational ambitions for this particular student. Although bear is unwavering in his goodwill, observing his master, rigorously trying to imitate him, he reproduces everything in his own fashion with a disconcerting logic…  Being around the bear (being a bear) is not without danger. And even with the best of intentions, bear molests his teacher, seriously risking damaging him. Fortunately, the hermit realises that the bear has learnt a lot, even if it is not exactly what he is trying to teach him. The bear will discover that the hermit has a secret and that he too needs help. Our two companions, so different, so opposed, will become friends. Their adventures, their determination and their tenderness, will win over the animals of the forest, and convince them of the benefits of friendship.