Polar Bear (2022)

Another magnificent Disneynature documentary, this one follows two cubs and their mother in their Norwegian habitat just 650 miles from the North Pole. It's miraculous how these film crews manage to get so close to wild animals and track specific ones as they migrate. And then the editor, as always, boils down so much footage into, in this case, an hour and 24 minutes of pure delight.

Narrated by Catherine Keener, co-directed by Alastair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson, and written by David Fowler, it did not disappoint Jack and me, despite chilly reviews. More on that in a moment. Climate change and its effect on the creatures is not given short shrift.

Harry Gregson-Williams' music can be streamed on Apple Music and elsewhere.

The gorgeous cinematography is thanks to James Ewen and Rolf Steinmann and edited by Andy Netley.

Keener was last blogged for Nostalgia; Fothergill for Chimpanzee (Disneynature); Wilson, Steinmann, and Netley for Penguins (ditto); Fowler for Born in China (yep); and Gregson-Williams for House of Gucci. Ewen has shot a number of nature docs before this one, and I've just learned that there is a making-of documentary about this documentary, called Bear Witness (2022). Love the punny title!

As I mentioned, Rotten Tomatoes' critics and audiences are giving it the cold shoulder, averaging 74 and 70%, respectively. They're just wrong.

Jack and I streamed it on May 20 with our subscription to Disney+. I think it's also available for rent on iTunes/Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video. I will now add it to my brand new Disneynature documentary list.