The Bear

The Bear

Year: 1989

Runtime: 96 min

Language: English

Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud

AdventureDramaFamily

A veteran beekeeper finds himself in a desperate fight when a relentless predator begins targeting his beehives. Determined to safeguard his livelihood and the generations of work he’s put into his craft, he must use all his knowledge and resourcefulness to confront the threat and protect his bees.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Bear (1989)

Trace every key event in The Bear (1989) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Mother dies in rockslide

A grizzly mother and her cub search for honey high in the British Columbia mountains. A rockslide suddenly crushes the mother, killing her and leaving the cub orphaned and forced to fend for himself.

1885 British Columbia mountains
2

Cub must survive on his own

Left to his own devices, the cub must search for food and shelter in the harsh mountains. He struggles to survive as the environment tests his resilience.

1885 British Columbia mountains
3

Hunters threaten a Kodiak

Two trophy hunters, Tom and Bill, pursue a male Kodiak through the surrounding mountains. Tom shoots at the bear, but the bullet only grazes its shoulder, causing the wounded animal to flee into the rugged terrain.

1885 Mountain range
4

Horses disappear; vow of revenge

After the hunt, the hunters discover their horses have vanished; one horse has been killed by the bear while the other is mortally wounded. Bill vows that they will kill the bear in revenge.

1885 Mountain camp
5

Cub and Kodiak form a bond

The cub encounters the Kodiak, and the two form a cautious friendship. The older bear begins to teach the cub how to catch salmon and hunt mule deer, imparting crucial survival skills.

1885 Mountains
6

Kodiak and cub meet a mate

During their travels, the two bears come across a female grizzly. A mating ritual occurs, and the Kodiak impresses the female by displaying his strength before mating.

1885 Mountain valley
7

Dogs vs. bears: a dangerous chase

Determined to capture the Kodiak, the hunters recruit a third man and a pack of Beauceron dogs, joined by Tom's Airedale Terrier. The bears attempt to escape by climbing a cliff while the dogs close in, and the Kodiak endures grievous wounds but kills several attackers before escaping over a pass, leaving the cub behind.

1885 Cliff and pass
8

Cub is captured and tormented

That night, the hunters corner the cub, tether him to a tree at their camp, and torment him with the remaining dogs. The men plot how to massacre the Kodiak, while the cub endures the cruelty.

1885 Hunter camp
9

Kodiak spares Tom; cub is released

On a cliff by a waterfall, Tom confronts the Kodiak at his mercy. The bear does not kill him, and Tom fires a shot into the air to scare it away, while Bill lowers his rifle. Tom then persuades Bill to let the animal go; the hunters return to camp empty-handed and release the cub.

1885 Cliff by waterfall
10

Cougar threat and Kodiak's presence

Alone again, the cub is stalked by a cougar, which corners him near a stream. The Kodiak appears behind the cub, and the cougar, sensing the bigger bear, flees the scene.

1885 Near a stream
11

Bears reunite and prepare for winter

With the danger behind them, the cub and Kodiak reunite and reaffirm their bond. As winter approaches, they seek shelter together in a cave, preparing to hibernate.

late autumn 1885 Mountain cave
12

Hibernation begins

Inside the cave, the two bears settle into a peaceful winter sleep, relying on companionship to endure the season. Their bond provides warmth and protection as the world outside grows quiet.

winter 1885-1886 Cave in the mountains

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:58

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The Bear Summary

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The Bear Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Bear

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