THE PLOT THUS FAR
Oscar-winning filmmaker James Marsh peers inside the landmark 1970s experiment for an unflinching look at Nim, the chimp whom scientists raised as human and taught sign language to prove that apes can communicate like humans.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
Columbia professor Herbert Terrace wanted to conduct an experiment on a baby chimp to see if it could be raised like a human baby and learn to communicate with people. He started the project by snatching the baby from its mother at two weeks of age, and then plopping it right into a large, free-spirited family with no scientific or primate-training background. Heck, no one in the family even knows sign language! The film shows how quickly Nim adapts to the pampered lifestyle and is even breast-fed by Stephanie, the mother. Nim is also exposed to smoking pot, drinking alcohol and even has limited success being potty trained.
The scientific project really resulted in being inhumane for the chimp because despite making some progress he never really adapted well when he was taken back with the rest of the chimps. He had been raised as a human for so long that after the project ended, Nim continued suffering the exploitations he went through. There were many people who helped Nim and really cared for him, but at the same time the entire experiment resulted in being a negative thing for the chimp. Project Nim never tries to be preachy or tell us what to do, it simply points out the facts. Marsh interviews everyone that was a part of Nim’s life and shows a lot of footage that was used during the investigation.
The DVD comes with a director’s commentary, featurettes and trailer. I wish that there were more documentaries out there to help form a better picture of our involvement in simian development. The last thirty five years of human experimentation with apes has lead to exciting new things and some disastrous results. Plus, why isn’t there a Blu-Ray release? You mean to tell me that there’s not an HD master out there? In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: 02/07/2012
