Helen and the Bear

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Helen and the Bear

2024

1h 21m

Documentary

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9 Reviews

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At 70, Helen often acts like an uninhibited teenager, sneaking cigarettes and exploring the bounds of her sexual identity. But at home, she cares for her 96-year-old husband Pete, a once-prominent Republican politician who now depends on her absolutely. Captured in intimate vérité by director Alix Blair, HELEN AND THE BEAR is a lyrical portrait of the beautiful and complex relationship between Helen and Pete as they enter the final chapter of their marriage. Helen's inner journey is brought to life through decades of journal entries and archival footage that reveal a struggle between her love for Pete and a desire for freedom. As Pete's health worsens and Helen anticipates life without "Bear," she wrestles with what's been lost and won through life by his side.

Tim Grierson

Screen International

05/02/2024

A moving portrait of the decades-long relationship between former US Congressman Pete McCloskey and his wife Helen, two indomitable forces who have weathered several storms and arrived at their golden years — where fresh challenges await.

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John Stark

Mac the Movie Guy

Nov 8

76/100

Helen and the Bear mixes political ideology and identity, reminding us of a simpler time when coexistence was actually possible.

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Kent Hill

Film Threat

May 14

8/10

Helen and the Bear depicts a triumph of the heart over expectations.

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Jared Mobarak

Hey, Have You Seen ...?

Apr 11

7/10

Blair’s relationship to her subjects affords access, but it’s her curiosity to truly understand them that delivers what we need to invest in learning about them too.

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Tina Kakadelis

Beyond the Cinerama Dome

Apr 6

Even if you remove Pete and Helen’s political activism, Helen and the Bear is an entrancing documentary of the ways relationships morph as time goes by.

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Kenneth R. Morefield

1More Film Blog

Mar 31

2/4

Her inability to verbalize why she stayed with him even though she hates the institution of marriage provides the film with some poignancy, but it can also cause exasperation.

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Alix Blair

Director

Alix Blair

Writer

Katrina Taylor

Writer

Katrina Taylor

Screenwriter

Lauren Kushner

Producer

Jenny Slattery

Producer

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Helen and the Bear: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

At 70, Helen often acts like an uninhibited teenager, sneaking cigarettes and exploring the bounds of her sexual identity. But at home, she cares for her 96-year-old husband Pete, a once-prominent Republican politician who now depends on her absolutely. Captured in intimate vérité by director Alix Blair, HELEN AND THE BEAR is a lyrical portrait of the beautiful and complex relationship between Helen and Pete as they enter the final chapter of their marriage. Helen's inner journey is brought to life through decades of journal entries and archival footage that reveal a struggle between her love for Pete and a desire for freedom. As Pete's health worsens and Helen anticipates life without "Bear," she wrestles with what's been lost and won through life by his side.

Director: Alix Blair
Producer: Lauren Kushner, Jenny Slattery, Rebekah Fergusson
Screenwriter: Alix Blair, Katrina Taylor, Katrina Taylor
Production Co: Maailma Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 21m