The Illuminated Film Company (U.K.) has launched the official trailer for its upcoming half-hour animated special A Bear Named Wojtek, inspired by the true story of a unique human-animal bond forged amid the violence and chaos of the Second World War. Co-produced by Warsaw-based independent prodco/sales agent Filmograf, the film is brought to life in an illustrative blend of hand-drawn 2D, CGI and rotoscope.
Synopsis: A half hour animated film, A Bear Named Wojtek is essentially a love story for one’s homeland — an important subject in times of refugees, nationalism and xenophobia. It relates the experience of the Polish people during World War II through the true story of Wojtek and his friend Peter Prendys, a driver in the 22nd Artillery Corps of the 2nd Polish Army.
The story begins with a platoon of Polish soldiers, exiled in the Persian Desert, trading rations for a small orphaned Syrian bear cub that Peter names Wojtek — ‘the happy warrior’. To Peter, the bear comes to represent his lost homeland, needing protection and care to become strong and independent again. To Wojtek, Peter and the soldiers become his only family. Peter and Wojtek’s journey through the war is epic, and the film explores the mythical tales of Wojtek’s alleged drinking and wrestling; becoming an enlisted soldier of the Polish Army, not to mention the famous story of Wojtek helping to fight in the Battle of Monte Cassino; and the soldier’s hope for independence.
Tragically, the realpolitik of the War’s outcome force Peter and Wojtek to become refugees in Scotland. Peter’s experience echoes the majority of the Polish people, who would become the biggest losers of the War as their land is bargained off to the Soviet Union. Despite feeling abandoned and betrayed, the Polish fortitude continues today via Wojtek, where he is still a celebrated legend — and symbol of hope. The film ends with Wojtek confined in the Edinburgh zoo, visited by his Polish friends. While they do not have the freedom they once did, the soldiers salute, and the bear salutes back – brothers until the end. (From Flickers Film Festival)
The film is directed by Scottish animator Iain Gardiner, who previously directed the shorts The Tannery, The Loch Ness Kelpie and Akbar’s Cheetah and has worked on acclaimed animated indies Ethel & Ernest, The Willows in Winter and The Thief and the Cobbler. Wojciech Lepianka wrote the pic, which features a score composed by Normand Roger. Co-producers are Iain Harvey and Wlodzimierz Matuszewskii.
The voice cast features Bill Paterson as the Zoo Director, Shauna MacDonald as Beryl, Michael Golab as Maciej, Tomek Borkowy, James Sutherland as the Chairman, Piotr Baumann as Piotr and Remi Rachuba as Jan.
“Whilst based on true events, our film is not an animated documentary,” Gardiner explained to Skwigly. “I am interested in how within our cultures and traditions we create mythologies in nature to reflect our human experience. Wojtek becomes a metaphor for the refugee.”
The film is production of Wojtek Animation Limited and Polish/U.K. co-production between Illuminated Film and Filmograf, with production finance from the Polish Film Institute, Screen Scotland and the U.K. Government-supported Young Audience Content Fund (managed by the BFI), with TV Poland and BBC ALBA (with funding from MG ALBA) the commissioning broadcasters. Illuminated Films is handling international rights.
A Bear Named Wojtek recently premiered at Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival, and is due to screen at Anima – Córdoba International Animation Festival (Oct. 4-6 | Córdoba, Argentina) and Aesthetica Short Film Festival (Nov. 8-12 | York, U.K.). Follow ABearNamedWojtek on Instagram for the latest updates.
