The Adventures of François

In the bustling gardens of a Parisian orphanage, a wiry ten‑year‑old named François delights in the simple absurdity of watching birds. His laughter draws the curiosity of the kindly cleric who watches over the boys, hinting at a restless spirit that will not be confined to cloistered walls. When a chance to sing in the great cathedral choir arrives, François steps onto the stone steps, unaware that the echo of his voice will soon be drowned by the clamor of a world in turmoil.

Swapping the quiet of choir stalls for the chaotic streets of revolutionary France, François discovers a talent for sleight of hand and swordplay. He learns to juggle almonds and knives alike, joining a ragtag troupe of performers who hustle amid the fevered politics of the era. As the city erupts around him, the young findling must balance the lure of easy theft with an emerging sense of honor, finding friends in the most unlikely of companions—a streetwise cat, a wily crabbie, and a fellow thief with a hidden heart.