THE BEARS' FAMOUS INVASION OF SICILY

Available for rental: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 @ Noon PDT → Saturday, June 26 @ Noon PDT

Join our Zoom Discussion with Le Professeur Kevin Elstob, on Thursday, June 24 @ 6:30pm PDT.**
If you purchase the film or the Virtual Festival Pass, you will receive the Zoom invitation. Questions about the discussion? Email kelstob@csus.edu.

It all begins the day that Tonio, the son of the great bear king Léonce, is kidnapped by hunters in the mountains of Sicily. Later, when a harsh winter threatens his people with famine, King Léonce decides to lead his clan down from the mountains and into the world of men. He hopes to find not only food to survive the winter, but also his lost son. With the help of his army and a human magician, he succeeds in escaping monsters and defeating an evil duke, and eventually finds Tonio.

For a time, bears and men live together in peace. But are the bears really made to live in the land of men?

This sumptuous and colorful animated film, full of magic and mystery, ghosts and monsters, is based on the classic children story, La famosa invasione degli orsi in Sicilia, written and illustrated by celebrated Italian writer Dino Buzzati in 1945. It is also a cautionary tale about war and dictatorship.

Directed by the great Italian illustrator Lorenzo Mattotti, The Bears’ Famous Invasion of Sicily will delight young and old alike!

Not Rated (all audiences).

Original Title: La Fameuse Invasion des ours en Sicile

Reviews

A brilliant adaptation of the eponymous story by Dino Buzzati and an absolute pleasure full of humor, fantasy, emotion, and Art – with a capital A.
Jesus Palacios – Fotogramas

This is a great, popular film, capable of involving all audiences in its magical world.
Caroline Vié – 20 Minutes

A true masterpiece.
Sabrina Nadjar – Femme Actuelle

Beautifully drawn with bold colors and appealing shapes, the film’s style is classic animation at its best, clear and pleasing, calculated to charm children and adults alike.
Jay Weissberg – Variety