Project Nim

[Celini]

I am so upset!
Not upset about the documentary; I thought it was an excellent documentary, even so I still don't like the use of fictional footage in documentaries...

I am upset about those bloody irresponsible hippies (no offence there, I do consider myself a bit of a hippie from time to time); being in the 70s does not excuse their absurd behaviour!

For me, animal cruelty started the day they took the young chimp away from his mother under cover of a supposedly scientific project! It never was a scientific project, barely a grotesque way to flatter Herb_I_forgot_his_last_name's ego!

I felt for Bob and strangely enough for the director of Lemsip; for me the 2 only characters that were not utterly incompetent. All the others were a very pathetic bunch of f*cking idiots!

sorry, I told you I was upset!

8/10 nonetheless


edit: I just read KK's review and I agree with the man

[superhero]

It's not going to be the same again when I have another lemsip.....

[Celini]

It's not going to be the same again when I have another lemsip.....

ejwrank/OH/David, I am sorry I did not stick around for a post movie debriefing, but I was upset + I had to rush back to work

[prettyxcool]

When I arrived at the Curzon this morning there was a notice on the door to say the doors would open at 9.45am for the 10am screening, and they were prompt, although the film was late in starting at 10.07am and several late comers came in, and half an hour into the film, a couple of people still were let in.

Lovely to sit with canadian_turtle, david, ejwrank and her OH. But the third row from the back in that screening room is very strange, as it was slightly higher and when I stretched my legs they dangled off the step! So not entirely comfortable for me. Made a mental note to not sit in that row again!

It was a very expertly made documentary, but my God does this film made me equally sadden and angry. Sad for Nim snatched at birth and angered by Professor Herb who shows no emotions towards Nim, and came across very selfish and conceited. Didn't they think of the consequences, and who raises a child with no discipline? He was put into a family where they gave him pot to smoke and gave him alcohol to drink, at how many years old? Poor Nim, passed from home to home, no wonder he was angry, and reacted violently. The only person who understood was Bob. 8/10

I thought I read somewhere here there was going to be an Q&A? So was really looking forward to it, but disappointingly, there was not one.

[David]

I really liked it too. Was a bit confused when the credits rolled it made it look like there were actors but I think I'm right in saying all the interviews were the real people and the only actors were in the recreations? I found it extremely disturbing and sad. Excellent documentary.

[Celini]

Q&A will be at Curzon Soho on 8 August

I really liked it too. Was a bit confused when the credits rolled it made it look like there were actors but I think I'm right in saying all the interviews were the real people and the only actors were in the recreations?

This is exactly why I don't like recreational footage edited in documentaries!

[funthing29]

I thought I read somewhere here there was going to be an Q&A? So was really looking forward to it, but disappointingly, there was not one.

The Q&A was at the Curzon Soho screening earlier in the week.

My first experience of the Phoenix cinema in East Finchley and it's not bad but it was freezing in that screen! I also had to sit through 20-25 minutes of film trailers before the film started.

I thought this was a very well made and moving documentary. The mixture of voiceovers and archive footage worked well and the editing was excellent.

Poor Nim, having all those people enter his life and form attachments with him, then leave abruptly. It is naive the way Nim is treated and handled, he is taught to sign and rewarded for his efforts, but he is not taught how to behave and how to manage his aggression. He is moved from pillar to post with no understanding of why he is suddenly caged and then deprived of human contact. It is completely understandable why he over-reacts and unintentionally causes harm with no awareness of his own strength. It was especially horrific seeing the animal experiments in the lab. There were also some heartwarming and funny moments so this documentary wasn't all doom and gloom. A truly touching story of how an animal is subjected to such a traumatic life all in the name of science. 8/10.

[prettyxcool]

Q&A will be at Curzon Soho on 8 August

It has actually been and gone - Thurs, 4 August! Saw it advertised on the back of the door of the loos! It was a p*ying screening, though.

[superhero]

I have to agree I have a problem with fictional recreations. Although I do understand it is necessary in some documentaries, but I strongly suspect some scenes we think are "archive true footage" have in fact been shot in some studio with another chimp and not Nim.
I think the film is quite manipulative in portraying it's viewpoints. It has a certain stance on animal cruelty and testing and has no interest in offering a balanced viewpoint or other possibilities.
I also found the various mentions of sexual relationships a little out of kilter with the tone of the film. This is from the same team as Man on Wire and I much preferred that (where fictional recreation was more appropriate when it's not trying hard to ram down a political message).
Looking at it as a pure drama and not as a documentary, where a "kid" is moved from home to home is nevertheless touching. 5.5/10

[superhero]

They claim to have used 3 actors

Q&A will be at Curzon Soho on 8 August

I really liked it too. Was a bit confused when the credits rolled it made it look like there were actors but I think I'm right in saying all the interviews were the real people and the only actors were in the recreations?

This is exactly why I don't like recreational footage edited in documentaries!