Review: ‘Panda Bear It' (2020)
Life is complex — as such, Panda Bear It affirms that humor and tragedy co-exist in the same plane. There’s a refined balance in both the script and frame composition. Kidd knows precisely when to hasten the playful tone, and then, just as fast, sharp
★★★★
NR - Drama (63 minutes)
“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.”
— Official Synopsis
Surreal, yet profoundly affecting with moments of raw emotion, Panda Bear It delves into how we cope with the loss of a loved one. Kamus Leonardo (Damien Elliott Bynum) struggles with adjusting to a new reality — one where the love of his life, Destiny (Melissa Cowan Rattray), has passed away. Buried under the layers of grief, Kamus can’t help but lose interest in everyday life. The daily activities that used to bring him joy, namely, making music, aren’t sufficient enough for a content and happy existence. Instead, he finds himself slumped in front of a screen all day playing video games and eating snacks. While these snacks might just be the tastiest and most therapeutic coping mechanism, Kamus certainly needs a helping hand — or paw, in this case. Lucky for him, a very interesting character just won’t seem to leave him alone; and Panda Bear has Kamus’ best interest in mind, even when he doesn't.
The most overlooked facet of grief is numbness. At the very least, it’s the greatest challenge for filmmakers and creatives, alike, in delivering a cinematic experience. For a multitude of reasons, numbness isn’t explored nearly as much as anger or sadness; for one, it’s not as expressive. We’ve seen examples of this on a larger filmic scale in David Lowery’s A Ghost Story (2017) and even in TV shows such as The Haunting of Hill House (2018), yet it is even more uncommon to see in indie films. Perhaps, it’s harder to properly communicate due to budgetary restraints or limited time, but nonetheless, Panda Bear It boldly confronts the reality of living in the wake of devastation. What distinguishes this feature, however, is the warm embrace of light-hearted drollery from writer-director Evan Kidd.
Life is complex — as such, Panda Bear It affirms that humor and tragedy co-exist in the same plane. There’s a refined balance in both the script and frame composition. Kidd knows precisely when to hasten the playful tone, and then, just as fast, sharpen the focus on intimacy. The use of open space to evoke a sense of emptiness is more than effective, especially considering that Kamus lingers from one place to the next with, often, no directive. It takes the meaning of “no thoughts, head empty” to the next level. Along his journey, Kamus encounters many people from different walks of life. Kidd uses these small, often menial, interactions as a way to build upon Kamus’ perspective and worldview. Simultaneously, the audience is invited to participate in the process of learning from others as well.
Bynum’s performance is alluring and memorable, but the brief, fleeting moments with the supporting cast are simply captivating. One interaction between Kamus and a farmer (Eric Hartley), specifically, had me gushing for the rest of the day. Additionally, the setting conveys just as much insight into Kamus’ psyche as anything else does. Typically, the winter months are the hardest for people that are grieving: it’s cold and occasionally gloomy. Panda Bear It, though, takes place in the summer — a season that’s associated with warmth and compassion. However, Kamus can’t bring himself to let go of the past and embrace the future. Add in the fact that he is being followed by a panda that only he can see, and it begins to look even more concerning. Yet, I’m reminded that I’m not alone in feeling the intensity of life.
More importantly, the film prompted me to remember that everyone I interact with has their own unique experiences and insights into life. We are all guilty of being oblivious to others for one reason or another; maybe you just had a bad day, or maybe you are grieving the loss of a loved one. At a time when everything feels heavy, Panda Bear It reminds us that humanity can prevail — if we let it.
Panda Bear It is an official selection of both the 2020 Charlotte Film Festival and the 2020 Carrboro Film Festival. The full film is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video:
https://www.amazon.com/Panda-Bear-Damien-Elliott-Bynum/dp/B08FFGJCWM
The film is also available for purchase internationally on Kidd’s Patreon Page with an exclusive Director’s Commentary as well:
https://www.patreon.com/MrEvanKidd
Still via RockSet Productions
Still via RockSet Productions
Still via RockSet Productions
Still via RockSet Productions