At a time when an orphanage is under threat from a greedy politician, one of the children, nine-year-old Jonna, is adopted by a friendly gorilla.

Frida Nilsson’s children’s book is turned into a film with Linda Hambäck’s animation style as a guiding force; environs are colorful and full of detail, while characters are simpler but expressive. We connect with the child who finds a safe harbor; the fact that her new mom is a Dickens-reading gorilla is one of several peculiar ingredients that make this film stand out.

A tad uneven, but still offers enough of an adventure for kids and a likable message.

2021-Sweden-Norway-Denmark. Animated. 75 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Linda Hambäck. Book: Frida Nilsson. Music: Minna Weurlander, Tania Naranjo. Voices of Pernilla August (The Gorilla), Stellan Skarsgård (Tord), Rebecca Gerstmann (Jonna), Melinda Kinnaman, Simon Norrthon, Tova Magnusson.

Trivia: Original title: Apstjärnan. Also shown as a miniseries for TV.