Directed by Claude Barras (My Life as a Zucchini), Sauvages (2024) is a breathtaking stop-motion tale set in the lush, endangered forests of Borneo. At the heart of the story is Kéria, an eleven-year-old girl who rescues a baby orangutan from her father’s palm-oil plantation—an act that sets her on a journey of awakening, resistance, and rediscovery.

Reunited with her cousin Selaï, a boy steeped in the ancestral knowledge of the Penan tribe, Kéria begins to see her world—and her role within it—through new eyes. Together, they confront the urgent realities of deforestation and environmental collapse, while also reconnecting with traditions that honor balance between humans and the earth.

Screened outdoors under the stars at Imbuga City Walk, Sauvages is a standout of our Kids Program, beautifully aligned with the Threads of Connection theme. It’s a story of kinship—between children and animals, tradition and transformation, and the fragile ties that bind us to the natural world. Visually rich and emotionally resonant, this film speaks to young viewers with clarity, wonder, and hope.