Sabotage: A Saab 900 Turbo Film That Became an Ode to Loss, Duality, and Unbreakable Enthusiasm

The film called Sabotage: a Saab story born of beauty and heartbreak

Nine years ago, deep in the rust-prone winters of Montréal, filmmaker Robin Rigault brought to life a visual and emotional tribute to the Saab 900 Turbo. Sabotage isn’t just a short film—it’s a cinematic meditation on duality, identity, and the painful impermanence of the material world. As the director reflects in his own words:

“The idea for this film came to me while I was swapping pieces from a scrap 900 I bought to the one I was driving. Looking at the two cars, I realized they were so similar that I began reflecting on the duality of the material world. Little I knew that the duality would catch me for real sometime later.”

The film’s name, Sabotage, is a poignant double entendre. Spoken in a French accent, it sounds like “Saab otage”—a Saab hostage. And for Robin, it became prophetic.

Behind the lens: the vision and the crew

This short film is not a solo act. While Robin Rigault directed and shaped the emotional tone of the piece, it came to life through a talented team. Together, they created something that transcends automotive filmmaking—a short that has traveled through film festivals and now, finally, enters the public sphere where it resonates most: among Saab enthusiasts.

From metal to memory: the tragedy that followed

After the final scenes were shot, Robin followed the unwritten rule of winter in Montréal: he stored his Saab 900 Turbo away to protect it from rust. But when spring arrived, so did the heartbreak.

The car had been vandalized. Not by accident. It was an act of destruction that ruined years of meticulous care and preparation. In his own words:

“In the spring of 2014, my Saab got vandalized by strangers, ruining all the work I had done in the fall just before shooting my film. The car was a wreck and had to go for pieces. In essence, it was a Sabotage.”

Robin hasn’t owned a Saab since. But what remains is a visual tribute. A love letter to the 900 Turbo.

Watch the film that never stops echoing

You can now experience Sabotage yourself:

It’s not a traditional story. There’s no dialogue. No voice-over. What you get instead is atmosphere, intimacy, and reverence. Every shot lingers. Every light reflection on the Saab’s bodywork speaks to memory.

This is not a commercial. This is grief, elegance, and cinema.

Sabotage is the Saab 900 Turbo’s final performance

In Sabotage, the car is not a subject—it is the main character. Robin’s lens transforms sheet metal into something personal. The Saab 900 Turbo isn’t just a machine—it’s a mirror, a relic, and a reflection of loss.

The car’s fate mirrors the film’s theme: material duality and inevitable disappearance.

What remains is everything

Robin ends his statement with uncertainty:

“Since this date, I haven’t owned another Saab and don’t know if I will ever have the chance to, but at least, I will always have these images of my 900 to look at.”

And yet, in these four minutes of cinematic tribute, he’s given something permanent to the rest of us. For Saab owners, dreamers, and wanderers, Sabotage is a rare film that truly understands what makes a car unforgettable.

Let it wash over you.