Panda Bear It: A Tender Exploration Of Grief's Quieter Side
Indie writer/director Evan Kidd’s sophomore feature, Panda Bear It, is much more than just an unusual title; it’s a quietly tender exploration of grief and loss that’s surprisingly touching. Although it’s not without its rough patches, this low-budget mumblecore dramedy is delightfully quirky and deeply heartfelt enough to transcend any of its shortcomings.
Local rapper Kamus Leonardo's world is upended upon the sudden death of his girlfriend Destiny. To make matters worse he's hanging out with a panda bear.
With Panda Bear It, Evan Kidd focuses on the quiet, emotional disconnect that’s associated with losing someone. Although grief is a central theme, at its core, Kidd’s second directorial feature is about the importance of connection and communication. Ultimately, it’s a film about the difficulty of discussing trauma and the value of opening yourself up in order to work through your pain. For all its surface-level silliness, this little oddball indie is unexpectedly effective and weirdly entertaining.
When we first meet Kamus Leonardo, we quickly recognize he’s not in a good place. Haunted by the loss of his girlfriend, ironically named Destiny, and plagued with visions of a panda bear, this grief-stricken local rapper is slowly and silently unraveling. Although he’s got a whole heap to get off his chest, Kamus can’t find the words or the courage to confront his feelings, which is seriously stunting the growth of his rap career. Unable to find the motivation to hone his skills as an artist, he distracts himself with TV and PlayStation whilst continuously scarfing down cheese balls. At the suggestion of his co-worker, this lost and floundering hip-hopper heads out to the woods for some quiet contemplation, only to be swept away on a surprising journey toward acceptance and self-discovery.
The film isn’t without its rough edges and narrative bumbles, but it manages to suck the viewer in much more than you’d expect given its limitations. The film was made for roundabout $1,000 with local North Carolina talent, Kidd himself serving as writer, director, producer, cinematographer, and editor. The project is clearly a labor of love for this budding indie filmmaker, and while it’s evident that Kidd is still mastering his craft, he proves to be more than capable to shoulder the weight of a feature-length endeavor. Some scenes admittedly work better than others, but the palpable emotional sincerity Kidd cultivates (which is also thanks to Damien Elliott Bynum’s performance) allow Panda Bear It to transcend many of its shortcomings.
The acting is a bit scruffy and imprecise at times, with certain performers being less emotive and credible than others, but they’re generally effective when it counts. Some of the dialogue is stiff and unnatural, which leads to the occasional flat delivery, but overall, each actor does a pretty good job of feeling believable. Some performances, like Damien Elliott Bynum’s Kamus and Eric Hartley’s Farmer, are downright surprising. Not all of Panda Bear It’s narrative wandering are fruitful, but there are many scenes — like the heart-to-heart between Hartley and Bynum’s characters — which make it well worth the watch.
Music plays a big part in the film’s narrative and atmospherics. The film’s backing track, which was sourced from Creative Commons, gives it a nice, continuous pulse, with Bynum’s very own track, “You’re Not Alone,” providing a cathartic release to give the film just the right sendoff. For a micro budget feature, Panda Bear It surprises and delights; it’s frequently funny and surprisingly heartfelt, with enough DIY indie charm to make it all go down smooth.
Recommendation: Despite its rough edges, this low-budget indie succeeds at delivering a surprisingly heartfelt and uniquely quirky look at grief. Definitely give it a watch, as it’s well worth the hour. You can stream the film right now on Amazon Prime Video.
Rating: 3.5 waving pandas outta 5.
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