'Project Nim (2011)' tells the tale of a chimpanzee who is taken from his mother just after birth and raised by humans, ostensibly as a human child, in an effort to prove that communication between species is possible via sign language. It basically follows the life of its eponymous animal in chronological order, making use of interviews and pre-existing footage (as well as a few mostly inconsequential recreations) to convey its narrative. It's done in a compelling way, with the varying people involved with Nim literally coming into and out of his life at various points, and it smoothly charts a story that almost seems too bizarre to be real - I mean, the parallels with 'Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011)' (minus the actual ape uprising) are stark, to say the least. The picture takes you through a whole host of emotions. On the one hand, it's really interesting and, even, endearing to see a chimp raised amongst people; on the other hand, it's clearly a violation of his animal rights. Though it initially seems somewhat romanticised, the concept is rightfully criticised a number of times - not least of which being when the piece undergoes a hard-to-stomach stint in a testing lab. It's also clear that this initially cute little chimp is still an animal and, as he grows older and bigger, there's real danger surrounding him (one woman recalls how Nim viciously bit almost all the way through her cheek). Of course, none of this danger is the animal's fault; he's in a situation that he can't fully comprehend, his very nature fighting against everything he's being taught on a daily basis. The fact that the chimp does, indeed, learn to rudimentarily sign is rather impressive, though it doesn't lead to specific 'conversations' as the experiment's creator (a man who seems to be more interested in public appearances than the welfare of either his staff or the sentient being he has made a scientific subject of) seems to have hoped. What is clear, regardless of any signing, is that apes can communicate and are incredibly social animals. It seems as though they're constantly thinking about something, whether that be something to play with or something to eat, and it proves that people aren't the only beings on the planet that don't rely on instinct alone. The leader of the experiment doesn't quite seem to understand that Nim isn't human, as he expects the chimp to be able to form sentences in the same way a human does and, furthermore, behave in a generally 'acceptable' human way. Obviously, that's never going to happen; our two species' brains are just wired in different ways. However, that difference should be celebrated, not eliminated. You can't convert a chimp into a human, no matter how hard you try. Why would you even want to? In a way, that's just arrogant. A person can make genuine connections with almost any creature on the planet, but it won't be the same as it is with another person. You have to compromise, to find common ground. Some people just want everything to work the way they expect it to. If something doesn't, it's deemed a 'failure'. The only real 'failure' here is on the part of the people involved with the project. Not the so-called 'teachers' or animal handlers themselves, but those responsible for starting the thing in the first place, for tearing a baby away from its mother, for turning a life into an experiment. It's animal cruelty, for sure, regardless of its intentions. As one interviewee says, "they're already in a cage. It's all downhill from there." Cages come in many forms. In some cases, a metal box is just as repressive as a pair of shorts. The film itself seems to understand that. As often as it indulges in the sheer wonder of Nim and his typiclaly joyous relationship with those who look after him, it also exposes an underlying callousness and sense of injustice. Most of the interviews are at least tinged with regret, something which only hindsight can afford. It's as often sad as it is amusing, unafraid to show the darker side of its situation. It isn't dour, but it doesn't shy away from reality, either. It doesn't judge Nim so much as those around him, who are only ever described in their own words and therefore make their own impressions on the viewer. It feels like a very honest documentary, whether it is or not, and it's effortlessly engaging. 7/10.
Review of Project Nim
