This film relates the remarkable story of Wojtek, one of the most beguiling wartime animal personalities who became a legendary mascot. In 1942, Wojtek was discovered as a cub in Iran by a group of Polish refugees as they travelled through the Middle East on their way to join the Allied Forces in Palestine and Egypt. As the war progressed, Wojtek became more than a mascot—he was someone to take care of when their own families had been torn apart. He was also a source of enormous pride; in the words of one Polish veteran, “We had very little, but we had a bear.” To ensure Wojtek had permission to travel with the troops, he was officially enlisted and given the rank of corporal. Wojtek gave valuable hope and reassurance to his Polish friends during a time of madness, fear, and hostility.

At the ferocious Battle of Monte Cassino, Wojtek had his most famous hour when picked up heavy artillery shells and helped move them into a waiting truck. After the war, Wojtek was transported to the Edinburgh Zoo, where he lived a hero’s life until 1963. The film combines archival footage, dramatic reconstructions, fables, and interviews to tell the untold story of the life of Wojtek and the Polish soldiers he fought beside. Excerpts from the illustrated book Soldier Bear by W.A. Lasocki and Geoffrey Morgan are shared by British actor Brian Blessed.