Der Junge, der ein Bär sein wollte

My 3 year-old son chose this movie at our library based on the cover (the one shown here on IMDb). He could not wait to put it on once we got home, and how thankful am I for him and his discerning eye, even if it is not trained to pick out a cinematic treasure.

Any movie/story that engages the viewer on every possible level is genius. Parental feelings of joy and grief, a child's feelings about security and frustration, the desperate feelings of not knowing what path to choose, all of these moments and situations are presented and "acted out" beautifully.

And what captivating music! The soundtrack is simply divine. The instrumental music is never overbearing and the vocal music is pure love. The animation (the watercolor effects, the simple snow scapes of the Arctic) goes hand in hand with the music. This is the type of movie I want my 3 year-old to fall in love with and be captivated by. There are too many over saturated movies out there today. Watch this movie and be awed by how powerful simplicity can be.