Review: Helen and the Bear

Official synopsis: A rebellious young woman, Helen Hopper marries a prominent Republican politician, Pete McCloskey twenty-six years older than her. Decades later, anticipating his death, she wrestles with their marriage, her sexuality, and a life spent by his side. 

Not being a resident of California, I wasn't aware of McCloskey's long political history. Though reading that he called out Pat Robertson for lying about his experience during the Korean War to the point where Robertson sued him for libel, then had to abandon his lawsuit after McCloskey had receipts to back it up, and instead had to pay all his legal fees gives me great joy. I preface this because I wasn't really sure what to expect going into Helen and The Bear. I just knew I wanted to learn more. 

Helen was immediately fascinating to me. She's free-spirited and on paper you wouldn't think she'd fall for someone like Pete, but they make it work. Their marriage isn't one size fits all. Helen struggled with her own closeted queerness, and had an affair with a woman for years. Pete owns up to not being a good father to his kids with his first wife because he always put politics first. One of his daughters give a very harsh critique of this upbringing, but ends it thoughtfully in that she thinks Helen taught Pete how to love. And you don't sense any bitterness there, though I'm sure it exists. It's just that Helen and Pete make sense.

I saw bits and pieces of many relationships I know of in the scenes of them together. Director Alix Blair observes them with care and the cinematography in this doc is gorgeous. Documentaries like these are so subjective because it really depends on how much you connect with the subject, and the filmmakers did a great job in making me connect with them. It's unconventional, but it works. 

Helen and the Bear is currently making its rounds on the Hot Docs festival circuit. 

Grade: A