The Shepherd and the Bear

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The Shepherd and the Bear

2025

1h 41m

Documentary

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5 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Set high in the majestic French Pyrenees, THE SHEPHERD AND THE BEAR explores a conflict provoked by the reintroduction of brown bears in the midst of a traditional shepherding community. The film follows an aging shepherd who struggles to find a successor as bears prey on his flock, and a teenage boy who becomes obsessed with tracking the bears. Through its breathtaking cinematography and immersive storytelling, THE SHEPHERD AND THE BEAR is a modern folktale about tradition, community and humanity's relationship with a vanishing natural world.

Megan Feeney

Sight & Sound

Feb 5, 2026

Max Keegan explores both sides of the debate over reintroducing wild bears to the French mountains, offering a compassionate understanding of a local shepherd’s fear for his livelihood.

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

Feb 4, 2026

3/5

Whichever side of the argument you instinctively find yourself on -- team bear or team shepherd -- the film resists snap judgments.

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Alistair Harkness

Scotsman

Feb 10, 2026

4/5

Director Max Keegan doesn’t amp up this conflict though; embedding himself in the community his approach is more reminiscent of Frederick Wiseman’s as he quietly observes his subjects, revealing a more nuanced picture of the complexities of rural life.

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Sarah Kent

The Arts Desk

Feb 9, 2026

4/5

By simply following events as they unfold, Keegan allows all sides of the argument to be aired by the protagonists.

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Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Nov 20, 2025

A mesmerizing, beautifully shot and eye-opening emotional journey that's also somewhat gripping and breathtaking at times.

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Max Keegan

Director

Max Keegan

Screenwriter

Elizabeth Woodward

Producer

Amanda McBaine

Producer

Jesse Moss

Producer

Max Keegan

Producer

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Synopsis

Set high in the majestic French Pyrenees, THE SHEPHERD AND THE BEAR explores a conflict provoked by the reintroduction of brown bears in the midst of a traditional shepherding community. The film follows an aging shepherd who struggles to find a successor as bears prey on his flock, and a teenage boy who becomes obsessed with tracking the bears. Through its breathtaking cinematography and immersive storytelling, THE SHEPHERD AND THE BEAR is a modern folktale about tradition, community and humanity's relationship with a vanishing natural world.

Director: Max Keegan
Producer: Elizabeth Woodward, Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss, Max Keegan
Screenwriter: Max Keegan
Distributor: WILLA
Production Co: Salthill Films, WILLA
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: French
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 21, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2026
Runtime: 1h 41m

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