The Fundy Film Society

Grizzly Man

A thoroughly riveting documentary by Werner Herzog (Aguirre: The Wrath of God), one of the masters of world cinema, Grizzly Man wowed audiences at both the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and Toronto’s 2005 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival.

Before his untimely and gruesome death, Timothy Treadwell made headlines around the world for his passionate efforts to protect the rights of grizzly bears in Alaska and save them from poaching. To this end, he spent a total of thirteen summers living among the wild bears—at first on his own, then accompanied by his girlfriend Amie Huguenard. In the summer of 2003, both Treadwell and Huguenard were killed by the animals Treadwell adored and with whom he felt such an unusual affinity.

In addition to living among the animals, Treadwell shot hundreds of hours of footage of the bears in their natural habitat. He would often refer to these films when he gave free lectures about grizzly bears at schools across the United States. Fascinated by these images and by the person who shot them, Herzog set out to chronicle the life of a man who, as we discover, is far more complex than he initially seems. Treadwell’s footage alone makes for fascinating viewing, but through Herzog’s gifted and curious eye the audience becomes privy to an amazing series of mysteries. What compels a man to prefer the company of grizzly bears to humans? Was Treadwell really helping these animals, or was he doing more harm than good? The answers to these and other questions surrounding Treadwell and his obsession make Grizzly Man one of the standout films of the year.