The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily
The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily
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Watch-outs
What this film brings
Content barometer
Violence
3/5
Notable
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
1/5
Accessible
Adult themes
1/5
Mild
Expert review
This animated family film is a visually rich and poetic fairy tale with a strong adventure mood, but it also carries a gentle sadness and some darker fantasy elements that may unsettle younger children. Sensitive content mainly includes battles between bears and humans, threats involving weapons, eerie supernatural scenes, an ogre like creature, and several important injuries or deaths within the story. The presentation is highly stylized and not realistic, yet these moments are more intense and more frequent than in a light animated comedy, because danger returns regularly and some scenes have real emotional weight. There is essentially no sexual content and very little problematic language, though there is some visible alcohol related behavior when the bears begin adopting unhealthy human habits. Parents may want to watch alongside younger or sensitive children, especially those troubled by separation, monsters, haunted settings, or the loss of beloved characters, and use the film as a starting point to discuss fear, bravery, and the risks of power and corruption.
Synopsis
Our story starts with Tonio, the son the bears King, being kidnapped by some hunters in the Sicilian mountains. Because of the harshness of a winter that threatens its clan with famine, the Bear King decides to invade the land of men (in the hope of finding his son). Thanks to his powerful army and the help of a wizard, he will succeed at both quests but he will soon find out that bears are not meant to live in the land of men.
Difficult scenes
The story begins with the kidnapping of the bear king's son, followed by a journey driven by hunger and family separation. This opening can already affect sensitive children because it creates a lasting feeling of loss and danger around a parent searching for a missing child. Several action scenes show the bears fighting soldiers or other animals sent against them. The violence is stylized, yet there are real attacks, weapons, a sense of war, and at least one important death that may upset children who become attached to the characters. One sequence takes place in a haunted castle where ghosts are used in an attempt to terrify the bears. It is not staged like full horror, but the dark atmosphere, the apparitions, and the setting may still frighten children who are uneasy with haunted places or spirits. The bears also face an ogre who can disguise itself before devouring its victims. Even in a fairy tale style, the idea of being eaten by a monster, along with the way the creature is defeated, may be too intense for very young viewers. In the later part of the story, the film explores moral corruption, unhealthy human habits, and scenes involving partying, gambling, and drinking. These elements are not deeply explicit and are not presented as admirable, but they give the film a sadder and more complex tone than its animated look might suggest.
Where to watch
No verified platform for the US market yet. We keep this section updated as availability changes.
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 2019
- Runtime
- 1h 22m
- Countries
- France, Italy
- Original language
- FR
- Directed by
- Lorenzo Mattotti
- Main cast
- Toni Servillo, Alberto Boubakar Malanchino, Maurizio Lombardi, Lorenzo Mattotti, Antonio Albanese, Linda Caridi, Corrado Invernizzi, Beppe Chierici, Roberto Ciufoli, Nicola Rignanese
- Studios
- Prima Linéa Productions, France 3 Cinéma, Pathé, Indigo Film, RAI Cinema, 3.0 Studio
Content barometer
Violence
3/5
Notable
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
1/5
Accessible
Adult themes
1/5
Mild
Expert review
This animated family film is a visually rich and poetic fairy tale with a strong adventure mood, but it also carries a gentle sadness and some darker fantasy elements that may unsettle younger children. Sensitive content mainly includes battles between bears and humans, threats involving weapons, eerie supernatural scenes, an ogre like creature, and several important injuries or deaths within the story. The presentation is highly stylized and not realistic, yet these moments are more intense and more frequent than in a light animated comedy, because danger returns regularly and some scenes have real emotional weight. There is essentially no sexual content and very little problematic language, though there is some visible alcohol related behavior when the bears begin adopting unhealthy human habits. Parents may want to watch alongside younger or sensitive children, especially those troubled by separation, monsters, haunted settings, or the loss of beloved characters, and use the film as a starting point to discuss fear, bravery, and the risks of power and corruption.
Synopsis
Our story starts with Tonio, the son the bears King, being kidnapped by some hunters in the Sicilian mountains. Because of the harshness of a winter that threatens its clan with famine, the Bear King decides to invade the land of men (in the hope of finding his son). Thanks to his powerful army and the help of a wizard, he will succeed at both quests but he will soon find out that bears are not meant to live in the land of men.
Difficult scenes
The story begins with the kidnapping of the bear king's son, followed by a journey driven by hunger and family separation. This opening can already affect sensitive children because it creates a lasting feeling of loss and danger around a parent searching for a missing child. Several action scenes show the bears fighting soldiers or other animals sent against them. The violence is stylized, yet there are real attacks, weapons, a sense of war, and at least one important death that may upset children who become attached to the characters. One sequence takes place in a haunted castle where ghosts are used in an attempt to terrify the bears. It is not staged like full horror, but the dark atmosphere, the apparitions, and the setting may still frighten children who are uneasy with haunted places or spirits. The bears also face an ogre who can disguise itself before devouring its victims. Even in a fairy tale style, the idea of being eaten by a monster, along with the way the creature is defeated, may be too intense for very young viewers. In the later part of the story, the film explores moral corruption, unhealthy human habits, and scenes involving partying, gambling, and drinking. These elements are not deeply explicit and are not presented as admirable, but they give the film a sadder and more complex tone than its animated look might suggest.