Sauvages
Beautifully crafted and politically charged, Savages certainly has ambition. Set in the rainforest, it follows two eco-activists who, along with a rescued baby orangutan, join forces with an Indigenous tribe to resist a brutal corporate land grab. The stop-motion animation is detailed and immersive—mud-slicked, mossy, and rich with atmosphere.
But for all its visual strength and good intentions, the story feels a bit too didactic. Characters often come across as mouthpieces, and the plot unfolds in a rather straight line, with little room for emotional complexity or surprise. Its message is vital, yes, but delivered with a heavy hand.
There are moments of charm and even some unexpected laughs, and Barras’s distinctive visual style remains compelling. Still, compared to his earlier My Life as a Courgette—a film that balanced depth and delicacy—this feels more like a well-meaning statement than a fully realised story. Worth seeing, but not quite stirring.
But for all its visual strength and good intentions, the story feels a bit too didactic. Characters often come across as mouthpieces, and the plot unfolds in a rather straight line, with little room for emotional complexity or surprise. Its message is vital, yes, but delivered with a heavy hand.
There are moments of charm and even some unexpected laughs, and Barras’s distinctive visual style remains compelling. Still, compared to his earlier My Life as a Courgette—a film that balanced depth and delicacy—this feels more like a well-meaning statement than a fully realised story. Worth seeing, but not quite stirring.
Mini Review: Savages is visually rich and politically urgent, with detailed stop-motion animation that brings the rainforest to life. Its tale of eco-activists and Indigenous resistance has heart and ambition, but the storytelling feels overly didactic. Characters speak in slogans, and the plot stays a bit too straight. There’s charm, some laughs, and a strong message—but it lacks the emotional nuance of My Life as a Courgette. A well-meaning statement, beautifully made, but not quite stirring.