David Verbeek’s The Wolf, the Fox and the Leopard has had its world premiere in the International Narrative Competition of this year's Tribeca Film Festival. The feature, a co-production between the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Croatia and Taiwan, is spoken in English, with Japanese used mostly for the narrative voice.

The film follows the story of a young girl (Jessica Reynolds) who has been raised by wolves in the forest, leading her to adopt animal-like behaviour. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she is discovered, studied and eventually taken in by a couple who isolate her on an abandoned oil rig, giving her the name “One”. As they attempt to raise her – teaching her to speak and warning her against the dangers of the so-called “Old World” – she begins to develop independent thought and questions the confined, controlled environment she’s placed in. Her journey becomes a philosophical exploration of identity, freedom and human nature, raising moral dilemmas that touch on the very core of what it means to be human. The film subtly engages with timeless questions about whether traits are innate or learned, evoking the pedagogical and philosophical ideas found in Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Emile, or On Education.

Dutch filmmaker Verbeek demonstrates confident direction in a film where it's difficult to single out the strongest element. Its plot is extremely fascinating and captures the attention within a few minutes into the story. The sound design is exceptional, complemented by outstanding work across the technical departments, especially the cinematography by Frank van der Eeden. Matthieu Laclau's editing also plays a crucial role in the film’s success, as the careful balance between scenes helps the running time of over two hours pass with surprising ease.

As for the acting, Reynolds delivers a powerful and finely tuned performance as the Wolf, capturing the animalistic essence of her character with remarkable precision. Much of the film depends on the credibility she brings to the role, and fortunately, the casting proves to be a perfect fit. In such a story, any misstep in the choice of protagonist could have made the entire universe built up in the movie feel unconvincing. Luxembourgish thesp Maria Jung and British actor Nicholas Pinnock also deliver convincing performances as the Fox and the Leopard, or rather, One’s adoptive parents.

All in all, Verbeek’s work has the potential to appeal to a wide array of audiences, ranging from dedicated cinephiles seeking artistic depth to casual viewers simply looking for an engaging product. It skilfully balances both sensibilities, managing to uphold a thoughtful, auteur-driven approach while still embracing the inherently entertaining nature of cinema. Striking this kind of balance is no easy feat and is rarely achieved so effectively. Whether fully intentional or not, The Wolf, the Fox and the Leopard succeeds in this, demonstrating a clear ability to resonate with a broader audience without compromising its artistic integrity or vision.

The Wolf, the Fox and the Leopard is a collaboration between the Netherlands’ Lemming Film, Deal Productions (Luxembourg), Feline Films (Ireland), Nukleus Film (Croatia) and Flash Forward Entertainment (Taiwan). Its international sales are handled by LevelK.