European claymation feature Savages (OV: Sauvages) is the much-anticipated film by My Life as a Courgette director Claude Barras. Set in the Sarawak province of Borneo, Switzerland-born Kéria (Babette De Coster) lives with her father (Benoît Poelvoorde), who works at a deforestation company. One day, her maternal cousin Selaï (Martin Verset), a member of the Penan people, comes to stay and attend school. When a logging company poses a threat to Selaï’s home, Kéria and Selaï team up to save the day.
When teenager Kéria first meets Selaï and her maternal grandfather, she is initially hostile to the former. In her eyes, not only is Selaï dressed weird but he has a natural rapport with Oshi, an orphaned orangutan whose mother was killed by armed guards and was quickly adopted by Kéria. However, her hostility stems from an ignorance of her late mother’s heritage – something not openly disclosed by her father – and therefore sees Selaï as a primitive nuisance. It is not until the children become lost in the forest that Kéria not only appreciates the beauty and dangers of a nomadic life but also introduces another side to her that is crying out to be explored.
This side to her more specifically refers to her mother’s Penan heritage, members of whom live a nomadic lifestyle in Sarawak and rely on nature for medicine, food and clothing such as hides and furs. As Kéria begins to bond with Selaï, there is a gentle story of exploration that opens the former’s mind to appreciate the natural world and the culture of her mother’s extended family – some of the film’s best scenes see the youngster, despite her initial resistance, bond with older family members as they integrate her into their lifestyle and history, bringing a tenderness and acceptance in the tale with heartfelt dialogue.
Among the poignance is the message of the ecological risks to modern life. There is an immediate threat as trees are quickly chopped to accommodate a new housing development at the cost of the Penan people. This threat, however, is not obvious until the film’s third act, when the deforestation company takes drastic measures to secure their site, only to be met with resistance from Selaï’s family, as well as family friend Jeanne (Laetitia Dosch). The fight between the Penan and corporations may seem like a necessary yet cliché plot device to enable the film’s proactive climax, but it allows a broader insight into the ongoing real-life fight against deforestation in Sarawak to preserve the Penan history.
In fact, Savages provides a theme of nurturing through the different relationships among the younger and seemingly defensive characters. Kéria may not be initially receptive to her cousin, but she expresses unconditional love to Oshi. While Selaï is quietly resentful of his baby sister taking the attention from their mother, his emotions provide a juxtaposition for Oshi – a baby orangutan who still needs to be nursed and craves the unique connection that a mother can provide. Throughout their adventure, Barras and co-screenwriter Catherine Paillé take their time to reinforce the innocence of youth, who need guidance as they grow up.
Although stop-motion – and claymation for that matter – is a rarely used form of animation among modern cinema, it never fails to capture the hearts of the audience. Savages is no exception – similar to My Life as a Courgette, its brightly coloured and beautifully executed set pieces capture a lush and eye-pleasing landscape that accentuates the beauty of nature while retaining its dangers. Add to the mix a charming set of characters, a cute, doe-eyed baby animal as a sidekick and a well-defined good guy-versus-bad guy narrative, and there is a winning formula for families.
It may have taken eight years for Barras to return to the scene after My Life as a Courgette, but it’s well worth the wait as Savages is a gorgeously animated tale to inspire cultural and historical conservation.
Savages is out in UK cinemas on 1 August.
This review was originally published as part of Flickfeast’s coverage of the BFI London Film Festival 2024.
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Director: Claude Barras, Catherine Paillé (co-screenwriter)
Stars: Babette De Coster, Benoît Poelvoorde, Martin Verset, Laetitia Dosch
Runtime: 87 minutes
Country: France, Belgium, Switzerland
