Black Bear movie story revolves around a couple, whose expecting their child when an out-of-town guest Abigail Plaza comes into their life. A filmmaker, she suffers from writer’s block and seeks solace in the woods. However, she finds herself at the center of a twisted love triangle. The filmmaker says that ‘Black Bear’ explores those parts of ourselves we are most afraid of.
Black Bear is a 2020 American comedy-drama thriller film written and directed by Lawrence Michael Levine. It stars Aubrey Plaza, Christopher Abbott, Sarah Gadon, Paola Lázaro and Grantham Coleman.
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2020, and was released on December 4, 2020, by Momentum Pictures. Filmed at a house powered by solar, batteries, and diesel generator, the film received the Gold “green-seal” from the Environmental Media Association for being produced sustainably.
About the Story
A young woman, Allison (Aubrey Plaza), sits on a dock at the edge of a foggy lake. She then retreats to a cabin and sits in a room where she looks at a notepad. The film then moves to Part One: The Bear in the Road. At a remote lake house in the Adirondack Mountains, Gabe (Christopher Abbott) and Blair (Sarah Gadon) entertain film director Allison, an out-of-town guest and former actress looking for inspiration. Gabe’s interest in her quickly becomes obvious, as does his unhappy relationship with his pregnant partner Blair.
Blair and Gabe constantly bicker in front of an uncomfortable Allison, with Blair targeting Gabe’s lackluster musical career and Gabe criticizing Blair’s drinking habits. Allison becomes a part of these arguments, shifting between siding with Blair and Gabe and causing them to become even more aggressive to each other. When Gabe rants against the failings of modern society, Blair becomes upset and threatens to leave after Allison jokingly sides with Gabe’s criticism of feminism.
Allison awkwardly leaves as Blair and Gabe retreat to their bedroom; Blair accuses Gabe of being sexually attracted to Allison, but then they make up. After Blair falls asleep, Gabe meets Allison for a swim at the lake. Afterwards the two talk, and Gabe admits that the pregnancy with Blair had been an accident. In turn, Allison admits that she had lied about many things she had told him and Blair for no reason.
They kiss and begin to have sex, but Blair interrupts them, attacks Gabe, and orders Allison to leave. She and Gabe argue violently until Gabe shoves her against a couch. Realizing that Blair is bleeding, Gabe orders Allison to get their car and drive them to the hospital. As she is driving, Allison is startled by a black bear in the road and swerves, crashing into a tree.
The film switches to Part Two: The Bear by the Boat House, seemingly revealing that the events up to this point have been part of a film shoot. Gabe is the director and Allison and Blair are actresses, though their roles in the production are switched, with Allison the scorned wife and Blair the interloper. Gabe and Allison have been married for years, but he is obviously rude and abrasive to her on set and favors Blair, which makes the crew uncomfortable.
Gabe continually makes Allison upset by making her believe that he and Blair are having an affair, which they actually are doing in order to make Allison’s acting feel more real and intense. However, they go too far and Allison begins drinking heavily, disappearing from the production and requiring the crew to bring her back. When Allison returns drunk to the set, Gabe notices and quietly chastises her in front of the crew, blaming her for demanding to be the lead actress.
After repeated failed takes and arguments during the film’s climactic argument scene, Allison eventually nails her part but begins fighting and hitting Blair for real. Gabe is delighted by the results, but Allison, still upset, retreats to a room and refuses to come out despite Gabe’s annoyance and her friends’ support. She orders a cameraman, Baako, to see her; when he arrives, she begins kissing him and pleads to him to lie to her that he loves her.
After she returns to the set, the scene is reshot, and Gabe asks Allison to not hit Blair. The scene plays out as intended, but Allison has a genuine, uncontrollable breakdown as she yells at “her husband” that he was supposed to love her, not “Blair.” She continues sobbing even after the cameras are off. Gabe consoles her as the uncomfortable crew looks on.
Black Bear (2020)
Directed by: Lawrence Michael Levine
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Sarah Gadon, Christopher Abbott, Lindsay Burdge, Alexander Koch, Jennifer, Shannon O’Neill, Grantham Coleman, Paola Lázaro, Lou Gonzalez
Screenplay by: Lawrence Michael Levine
Production Design by: Tracy Dishman
Cinematography by: Robert Leitzell
Film Editing by: Matthew L. Weiss
Costume Design by: Allison Pearce
Set Decoration by: Jennifer Durban
Music by: Giulio Carmassi, Bryan Scary
MPAA Rating: R for language throughout, sexual content, drug use and some nudity.
Distributed by: Momentum Pictures
Release Date: January 24, 2020 (Sundance), December 4, 2020 (United States)
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