We humans can be such idiots. We can be great, we can be generous and kind, but we are mostly cruel, self-involved schmucks. In the story of NIM the chimpanzee we are especially vindictive characters.

In a nutshell

NIM is taken from his mother at birth. He is given to a human family to raise. The point? To teach him sign language. So we can communicate with another species. Whoop, whoop.

Best performance

NIM cannot speak. He cannot string together full sentences in sign language either. Yet we never doubt how much he loves, and how much he ends up hating, human beings.

Stand-out scene

The scene is not filmed, but retold by NIM’s “human” mother. After years and years of neglect she at last decides to visit NIM as an adult chimpanzee locked up in a cage on a farm for lost and injured animals. She enters his cage. What he does next is riveting.

Negatives

Humans.

Is the film relevant today?

Have we learnt how to live in harmony with the planet? With other species? No. I guess the film is super-relevant.

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