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About this movie

Genres:
Documentary
Language:
English
Running time:
1:39:40
Partner rating:
PG-13
Released:
Quality:
720 (High Definition)

Cast & Crew

Cast

  1. Nim
  2. Professor Herbert Terrace
  3. Stephanie LaFarge
  4. Jenny Lee
  5. Laura-Ann Petitto
  6. Joyce Butler
  7. Bill Tynan
  8. Renne Falitz
  9. Bob Ingersoll
  10. Dr. James Mahoney
  11. Herbert Terrace
  12. Laura Ann Petitto
  13. Renee Falitz
  14. James Mahoney

Directors

  1. James Marsh

Producers

  1. Simon Chinn
  2. John Battsek

Writers

  1. Elizabeth Hess

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Project Nim

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Trailer for Project Nim

Oscar-winning director James Marsh (Man on Wire) shifts his focus from man to monkey to tell the remarkable story of Nim, a chimpanzee who managed the unique feat of learning sign language after being raised like a typical human child. Interviews with Nim's trainers as well as other key researchers are combined with archival footage to offer incredible insight into the experiment that would forever alter our perceptions regarding the differenc... Oscar-winning director James Marsh (Man on Wire) shifts his focus from man to monkey to tell the remarkable story of Nim, a chimpanzee who managed the unique feat of learning sign language after being raised like a typical human child. Interviews with Nim's trainers as well as other key researchers are combined with archival footage to offer incredible insight into the experiment that would forever alter our perceptions regarding the differences between man and beast. By attempting to turn Nim human, scientists learned more about the true nature of humanity than they ever thought possible.

Reviews by Rotten Tomatoes

Scored 'fresh' by Rotten Tomatoes

98%Tomatometer score: 98% positive reviews from professional critics.

percent positive reviews

  1. Positive review
    David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter This haunting life story is an exquisite example of non-fiction filmmaking as full-bodied, emotionally complex drama. Full review External link
  2. Positive review
    Jim Schembri, The Age (Australia) Tales of the attacks Nim inflicted on his many carers are horrific, but there is a pervasive sense there was nothing else they could have expected. Full review External link
  3. Positive review
    Jake Wilson, The Age (Australia) The film teases us with a paradox: arguably Nim's keepers were wrong to try to endow their protege with human attributes, but can we empathise with his suffering without making the same mistake? Full review External link
  4. Positive review
    David Stratton, At the Movies (Australia) Funny at times, but also deeply sad, it's a truly fascinating and well made documentary. Full review External link
  5. Positive review
    Tom Ryan, The Age (Australia) Marsh's film is as much a study of how we behave as a species as it is of what happens to Nim. And we don't come off particularly well. Full review External link
  6. Positive review
    Leigh Paatsch, Herald Sun (Australia) A bizarre, captivating and somewhat sad new documentary. Full review External link
  7. Positive review
    Erin Free, FILMINK (Australia) Driven by James Marsh's measured storytelling style, this ethically unsettling and emotionally compelling documentary is the equal of any cinematic epic. Full review External link
  8. Positive review
    Thomas Caldwell, Cinema Autopsy I was very moved by this film. Full review External link
  9. Positive review
    Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK] The chimp comes out of it well. Homo sapiens, of course, is found wanting. Full review External link
  10. Positive review
    Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph As a cinema experience, Project Nim was never likely to reach the heights of Marsh's Man on Wire, but the eccentricities of his story made it well worth telling. Full review External link

Read more reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

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