Interview: Director Claude Barras on why Savages is “Heidi meets The Jungle Book”

Nine years ago, director Claude Barras captured hearts all around the world with the intriguingly titled stop motion animation, My Life As A Courgette. The tender story of a solitary little boy learning about trust and love while growing up in a children’s home attracted international acclaim, introducing audiences to a new and distinctive storyteller. And he returns this week with Savages, this time looking at a worldwide crisis through the eyes of children.

Set on the edge of the vast rainforest of Borneo, it follows teenager Keria, who rescues a baby orangutan found in the palm plantation where her father works. While she looks after the young primate, her young cousin Selai arrives to live with the family and escape the ongoing conflict between his tribe and the logging companies who threaten the forest. As the two grow to understand each other, and Keria discovers more about her heritage, they come together to join the battle against the destruction of the rainforest, which is also their ancestral home. And, to everybody’s surprise, they use the most 21st-century of methods.

MORE: READ OUR REVIEW OF SAVAGES HERE

In the exclusive interview below, with the help of a translator, Barras, who was raised in the Swiss mountains, reflects on his interest in the environment. He describes his new film as “Heidi in the world of The Jungle Book,” and explains why his films take a child’s perspective on major issues. He also talks about his love for stop motion animation and his inspirations, as well as how he found himself becoming the voice of one of the orangutans in his own film.

Check out the full interview:

Savages opens in British and Irish cinemas on August 1^st.

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About the Author

Freda Cooper

Editor

Freda is a Senior Writer at The People's Movies. A lifelong movie fan and a film critic for over ten years, Freda’s natural habitat is the darkened rooms frequented by fellow cineastes. She can also be found asking questions of some of the biggest names in the business – from Cate Blanchett to Daniel Craig or Mike Leigh to Pete Docter – or crafting reviews for a number of sites and publications, including The People’s Movies. And listeners to BBC Local Radio can catch her views on the latest releases. She always – and probably always will – cite The Third Man as her favourite film of all time. Her top ten? That’s a moveable feast …..

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