I was deeply moved by Itam’s story and by the paradox the director speaks about: years of human effort, vast resources, and sincere love can be rendered meaningless in a single second when a bear is left face to face with the wild. This frightening vulnerability — and at the same time the grandeur of the moment of release — became the starting point for my work.
The poster visualizes the moment when human responsibility ends and the bear’s personal fate begins. I deliberately chose not to depict Itam herself in order to focus attention on her journey.
In the lower part of the composition, paw prints are intermingled with rough shoe impressions. This symbolizes the long rescue process during which the bear’s life was entirely dependent on humans.
At the center of the poster, the human footprints come to an abrupt end. Itam continues her journey alone, moving into the depth of the film’s title as if into the depths of the forest.
This embodies the film’s central question: will she be able to survive without our protection?
To create the graphics, I conducted research into the anatomy of the Malayan sun bear. I studied the structure of their paws, the shape of the pads, and the specifics of the claws so that the prints on the poster would be biologically accurate. It was important to me that behind the minimalist graphics there stood a real story of a living being.
Working on this poster became something more for me than just a design task. Immersing myself in Itam’s story, I acutely felt how thin the line is between our care and her true freedom. The film made me reflect on the fact that genuine love for nature is not only the desire to save and protect, but also the courage to let go at the right moment, despite all the risks.
