A Bear Named Winnie (2004) is based on the true story of Captain Harry Coleman who rescued a bear cub on his way to camp. He is a member of the army veterinary corps and on his way to take care of soldier’s horses during World War I. The author A.A. Milne visited Winnie in the London Zoo with his son Christopher, and Winnie’s charm inspired him to write and develop the children’s book character known as Winnie the pooh. 

This movie begins in Canada in 1914, just before Captain Harry Coleman is set to leave for camp. He purchases a bear for $20 from a hunter who shot her mother, and is able to sneak her on the train with him by identifying her as the veterinary corps’s mascot. Winnie shares a tent with Harry and Macray, who take care of her while looking after the horses and other animals in the army. Winnie gets herself into trouble throughout the movie and is an escape artist, though the whole group bonds with her and spends any free time they have playing with her. She is a real morale booster that allows the men to come together to promote something positive while preparing to move to England and then over to the front lines. They try to release her back into the wilderness, but it is clear that Winnie has become dependent upon human interaction. Harry and Mcray sneak Winnie to England with them, but they know she cannot be brought to the front lines. They take her to the London zoo, where she ultimately remains a permanent member. 

The shooting of this movie is fairly standard, there is nothing really unique about the way it is filmed in regards to visuals. However, there are elements of this movie that give it a certain level of charisma and allow the viewer to connect with the events that are unfolding. The transitions are what truly stick out. From the very beginning, the dates are displayed so that it is clear what moments are the present day, flashbacks, and the locations where the events are unfolding. Furthermore, my favorite part of this movie was the upbeat, ragtime piano music that was used for a majority of transitions. It almost is reminiscent of a silent film; this music was played when Winnie escaped from her post and was wandering through the camp, but also when there were montages of Winnie learning how to collect food and growing. This was a unique way to portray time passing; very little elements of this movie focused on the war itself. It was primarily upbeat, lighthearted, and focused around the life and circumstances surrounding Winnie and how she came to be in the London Zoo. The war itself was merely an obstacle on her journey, rather than an influencing factor or any main plot point. 

The actors were very well chosen for this movie. Michael Fassbender portrays Captain Harry Coleman, and Jonathan Young plays Macray. Fassbender is able to capture the stern outer shell of a man touched by the war, but he captivates the audience with his undeniable connection to animals and boyish charm. Macray is a stereotypical nerdy sidekick, with a soft spot for an older horse that he is unable to part with. The General and the Colonel were portrayed by harsh, brunt men who could not be bothered by things as insignificant as a mascot. However, as the movie continues the Colonel is touched by Winnie’s spirit, and the sense of comradeship she instills in the men of the artillery she represents. 

Overall this film was sweet to watch. I was brought to tears when they tried to return her to the wild, but I do have a soft spot for animals in movies. The directors were able to create a sense of loyalty between the viewer and Winnie by starting the film by showing the hunter killing her mother and selling her to escape the guilt of orphaning her. It was an interesting story to learn the context of, and there are some very heartfelt moments. It reminded me of a family movie that is not quite a Disney movie. While I did enjoy this movie, I could not say I would watch it again, though I would recommend it to someone who was interested in Winnie the Pooh and its origin story.