There's an art to a short film, compressing story telling into its most basic minimalist elements. What Jason Ruddy understands is the importance of a stripped-down story, good tension and great actors. Hunting Bears sees two brothers, Joel Beckett's Andy and Nathaniel Parker's Kenny as they go for a trip in the woods.
A by-product of the woods is a sense of the fairy-tale that is made all the more imposing by a thick sky of overcast clouds. Ruddy doesn't try to spice the dialogue up with overly wordy, needlessly flashy speeches that feel out of place, the conversations are the sort that people have. We learn in the chatter that Kenny is in the grip of Alzheimer's and his brother is now his keeper. The ‘Hansel & Gretel' style setting allows for a story about how hard it can be to care for someone you love who is slowly losing who they are.
Ruddy's direction is sure footed, giving us a sense of mounting tension, knowing Andy is at his wits end. This allows us to ponder a very real question: if someone loses their memory, and their sense of self are they still the person we know? Are we duty bound to care for someone who no longer resembles the person we knew before?
Becket, perhaps still best known for his turn as Lee in The Office, and the always reliable Parker, make for a great duo on screen. Their performances aren't flashy, they're in service to a growing sense that this can only go one way. In their hands, and the hands of their director, the film feels longer than ten minutes. Perhaps because the sense of tension begins to bare down on you, but you're never bored. As a calling card, this only herald's better things for director Ruddy, and is a stellar showcase for both performers.
