Review of Project Nim (2011) by Tibor B — 07 Feb 2012

A very interesting, and expertly crafted documentary about Nim Chimpsky, a chimpanzee who was the unwitting subject of a psychology experiment by Prof. Herb Terrace in the 70s with the aim of seeing if an ape raised as a human child could learn and communicate through sign language.

Inevitably, the human stories quickly begin to overwhelm the experiement and Nim's considerable progress. The film has a very unsentimental perspective, and as much as it highlights the good aspects of the many human stories in Nim's life it also emphasises just how many hands Nim passed through, and the lack of support from his early carers just when he needed it the most in his later years.

Most sympathetic by far is Bob Ingersoll, a pot-smoking hippie at the Primate centre Nim returns to after the experiment is aborted after Nim's wild animal nature causes injury to a researcher. It's clear that Bob and Nim bond incredibly well, with a nice balance between embracing both Nim's carefree animal side and the signing language he has been taught.

Distressing times are ahead however, and in a case of life imitating art,like any animal movie fan will know medical research rears it's ugly head. Saved from this eventually, Nim is bought by a Texas animal sanctuary only to live a life of loneliness and depression, and teased by a fleeting publicity friendly visit by Terrace.

Thankfully a happier ending awaits with the new owners of the sanctuary allowing contact with Bob again, and the introduction of most of the research chimps back to Nim, and the much needed social contact the animals need.

Marsh's skill in the documentary format creates a balanced approach in every way, from the mix of archive, contemporary interview and dramatic reconstruction to the portrayal of Nim as an intelligent, perceptive and characterful being but with wild animal violence never far from the surface.

The humans too are presented fairly,with both well meaning generosity, genuine interest and heartfelt bonding but also shocking selfishness cruelty and heartless physical and emotional abandonment all shown towards Nim.

Is evolution all it's cracked up to be?