This 100%-Rated Gem Is One of the Most Overlooked Coming-of-Age Movies in the Genre

Every year, movie theaters and streamings release dozens of coming-of-age stories. Some become landmarks, discussed, and nominated for Oscars, while others, no less worthy, are lost in the endless stream of new releases and end up at the bottom of library shelves.

Mickey and the Bear falls precisely into the latter category – it's an honest and tender portrayal of a girl who must choose every day between her duty to her broken father and her own future.

What Is 'Mickey and the Bear' About?

The story is set in Anaconda, a small town in Montana surrounded by mountain ranges and forested valleys. High school student Mickey lives in a trailer park with her father, Hank, an Iraq War veteran.

After her mother's death, Mickey became the sole caregiver for her father, taking on the responsibilities of cooking, earning money, and picking him up from the police station. Hank suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction and is unable to cope with routine matters alone.

Mickey and her father seem to have reversed roles – the daughter has become the guardian of an older man. The girl constantly questions whether it's worth holding on to Hank and sacrificing her own future or if it's time to put herself first.

'Mickey and the Bear' Is a Confident, Authentic Drama Born From Extensive Research

Mickey's independence is evident from the very first scenes. At the beginning of the movie, she doesn't look like a typical schoolgirl, not because of her appearance, but because her eyes lack sparkle and playfulness.

Annabelle Attanasio fills her directorial debut with close-ups of Camila Morrone – the actress doesn't need to speak, her dull, tired gaze speaks for itself.

The idea for the film grew out of the director's research project examining the impact of veterans' trauma on their families. After receiving a grant, Attanasio traveled to Anaconda, a town home to key veterans' institutions.

She spoke with local residents, conducted interviews, immersed herself in the social climate, and became convinced that the movie should be set there.

'Mickey and the Bear' Is an Honest Portrait of Codependency Full of Both Sadness & Light

Mickey and the Bear is a personal story about one family that attempts to paint a terrifying portrait of a generation of veterans returning home with a legacy of trauma. Attanasio avoids caricatures – Hank is not a perfect father, but he is also not a terrible parent.

However, many of Mickey and Hank's scenes together are truly terrifying. The father manipulates his daughter, forgets her graduation, and, without his medication, becomes dangerous – outbursts of aggression and clouded thinking transform the social drama into horror.

Despite the dark subject matter, though, the film offers plenty of light. The father and daughter develop a codependent relationship but also find room for love. Gradually, however, the father's behavior erases all tenderness, and daily care becomes a trap for Mickey.

Mickey and the Bear isn't so much a film about choice as it is a reminder that despair sometimes takes over.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Mickey and the Bear'?

• Mickey and the Bear has 100% from critics and 76% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.7/10.

• On Letterboxd, Mickey and the Bear scored 3.5/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Mickey and the Bear'?

Mickey and the Bear is available to stream on Hoopla and Fandango.