Big Sky Doc Film Fest 2025 - Interview with Director: Alix Blair about her film Helen and the Bear

Mike interviews Alix Blair about her film Helen and the Bear. At 70, Helen often acts like an uninhibited teenager, sneaking cigarettes and exploring the bounds of her sexual identity. But at home, she cares for her 96-year-old husband Pete, a once-prominent Republican politician who now depends on her absolutely. Captured in intimate verite by director Alix Blair, HELEN AND THE BEAR is a lyrical portrait of the beautiful and complex relationship between Helen and Pete as they enter the final chapter of their marriage. Helen’s inner journey is brought to life through decades of journal entries and archival footage that reveal a struggle between her love for Pete and a desire for freedom. As Pete’s health worsens and Helen anticipates life without “Bear,” she wrestles with what’s been lost and won through life by his side. Website: https://helenandthebear.us/