Teddy Bear

Dennis is a professional body-builder. Though nearly forty, he still lives in a tiny room in his mother’s house and has yet to find a girlfriend. But behind the massive, muscular exterior is a quiet, shy man desperate to find love and happiness. Following his uncle’s example, he goes to Thailand to find a partner among the many women available to foreign tourists. After several unsuccessful sorties to local bars, it seems the whole trip will end in fiasco. Then he meets the owner of a gym and is instantly attracted to her. This love story with a difference raises questions about various kinds of love while avoiding the oversimplifications of similar films. Thanks to its realistic style and reliance on authentic locations and non-professional actors, it succeeds in letting us see into the characters’ innermost lives. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)