Hana Lang
Is there anything more Chicago than a montage of seasoned Italian beef sandwiches? Within a year of release, Jeremy Allen White won a global award for the new hit show, “The Bear”. The American comedy has already attained a 100% rotten tomatoes score with only two short seasons. In the show, Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, a budding chef, finds himself in the role of owner of his family’s Italian beef sandwich shop in Chicago after the tragic loss of his older brother to suicide. Leaving behind his career in a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York, he returns home to take charge of the shop. Carmen is confronted with a host of challenges, including his brother’s lingering debts, a neglected kitchen in need of repair, and a staff that proves hard to manage. All the while, he struggles with his own inner turmoil and the haunting of his family trauma. As a typical American drama comedy has some type of romantic storyline or relationships, “The Bear”, with eight half-hour episodes, has no sexual or romantic storylines, and an ensemble kitchen crew cast that grew better by the season, “The Bear” was one of the very few shows that focuses on the reality of family and friendships.
While the show revolves around a dark backstory, it incorporates humor through its characters, particularly in the dynamic between Carmen and his dead brother’s best friend, Richie. Their witty banter, complete with Chicago accents and slang, adds a delightful touch, especially for someone like me, a fellow Chicagoan. The use of the typical Chicago accent, complete with its brash language and jokes, makes the humor in the show both relatable and irresistibly amusing. As well as the main character having the Chicago area code “773” tattooed. Furthermore, the show’s cinematography skillfully immerses the audience in the chaotic, bustling atmosphere of the kitchen. It transitions between chaotic kitchen scenes and moments with Carmen, all the while seamlessly weaving in traumatic flashbacks from his time in culinary school. This cinematic approach ensures that viewers feel like active participants in the hectic culinary world, heightening the show’s famous impact. From the struggles of having to pay back a relative $300,000, to employees quitting, Carmen goes through it all which leads to the audience sitting at the edge of their sofa.
“The Bear” employs graceful, extended shots and rapid, dynamic cuts that skillfully highlight pivotal moments, capture remarkable performances, and effectively establish the film’s mood and subject matter. At first glance, it might appear that these contrasting techniques would not harmonize, but in reality, they provoke a response, compelling one to exclaim, ‘Yes chef! This show authentically captures the intense stress prevalent in the food industry, as well as the challenges faced by small local businesses struggling with financial issues caused by the impact of the pandemic. I highly recommend this show to anyone in need of a new binge-watching series after a long day of work. “The Bear” breaks away from the typical popular hits, offering a fresh and diverse experience with each episode, almost delving into a completely different show each time. Personally, it left me wanting more; I often found myself saying, “Just one more episode,” only to realize it’s suddenly 1 a.m.
Hana Lang