A balance of scientific intrigue and human emotion, “Project Nim” is A grade material

Director: James Marsh.

Producer: Simon Chinn.

Release Date: Premiere – Sydney Film Festival 2011, Australian Wide – TBA

In On Natural Selection, Charles Darwin wrote, “Nothing is easier than to admit in words the truth of the universal struggle for life, or more difficult.” While Darwin did not write this with any particular animal in mind, his words have strong importance to James Marsh’s new documentary feature Project Nim, an inspirational, heartfelt and tragic exploration of the first chimpanzee to be taught sign language and his consequential life. For as Marsh examines the tumultuous life of one intelligent animal, he asks the audience to consider the universal struggle of all animals when science and human interest take precedence above each creatures natural existence.

Following on from his 2008 Academy Award winning film Man On Wire (Best Documentary Feature) Marsh directs the story of Nim, a chimpanzee who became the centre of a landmark US 1970s’ science experiment which aimed to answer the question regarding nature verses nurture by showing that an ape could learn to communicate through sign language if raised like a human. Exploring his childhood in the adeptly dubbed ‘Project Nim’ and his adult journeys through an unnatural human society, the documentary questions what we really know about the true nature of animals and the impact of our actions upon it.

Documentaries, in general, are hard movies to make, as the right balance of information and story are needed so as to avoid becoming overtly preachy or sappy. However, when this balance is achieved a documentary can become some of the finest pieces of cinema on offer. Project Nim is a clear example of just that. Due to Marsh’s talented directorial skills, the film avoids becoming a stern lecture about the woes of animal exploitation by encouraging the audience to engage with Nim as an equal, rather than just an animal.

Through the intercutting of archival footage of Nim’s life and first hand interviews, Marsh creates an atmosphere whereby the audience doesn’t just learn about Nim’s life but they feel it too. Supported by a perfectly developed musical score by Dickon Hinchliffe, the audience is drawn into an environment where they share Nim’s happiness, fear and pain, while at the same time being enlightened on affect that human intervention had upon all of this. While the audience empathises with Nim’s experiences, the cleverly integrated historical and scientific information reminds the audience that this is not a natural existence and one that could have been avoided. This allows the dramatic brutality of Nim’s later life to really sink in with the audience, in an informative and, largely, emotional way.

For Project Nim is not a straight forward documentary about a scientific project, it is an excellent biography about the life of one incredible chimpanzee. Due to Marsh’s commitment to both the emotional and informative nature of Nim’s story, the audience is encouraged to empathise with Nim on a human level while never forgetting the unnatural influence humanity had upon it. Similar to Darwin’s argument, Marsh confronts the audience with a statement that is both easy and difficult to comprehend. If life is a natural struggle then why are we making it so much harder on animals who are, naturally, no different from us? For if we don’t want to struggle through life, why should they?

For those still unsure about this film, I advise you check out the trailer below. This movie is definitely worth the price of an admission ticket.

Well the Sydney Film Festival has officially begun for 2011 and has provided a rather mixed bag of films from all around the world, some of which I have had the pleasure (and displeasure) of seeing over the past five days. However, it all started under rather cold circumstances last Wednesday night at the State Theatre, in the heart of Sydney’s CBD.

Below I have attached the YouTube video that I made for the UTS Vertigo website from footage that Carla Efstratiou (Vertigo editor) and myself filmed from the red carpet. Australia’s finest talents from both the screen and (mainly) television made there way into the State Theatre, on this exceptionally cold evening, for the Australian premiere of Joe Wright’s new film Hanna (2011), staring Eric Bane, Saoirse Ronan and Cate Blanchett. We were lucky enough to catch some of the night’s big stars including Miss Blanchett (from a great distance), Academy Award Winner Jane Campion, Sigrid Thornton and the cast of Showcase’s hit Australian miniseries Cloud Street. While the carpet was an interesting experience, we were unfortunately not able to see the film (which from early and international reviews is said to be a well construct film from a rather period-piece conservative director). However, I have made my way to a number of recent media screenings since the festivals commencement and have found myself walking away, both times, feeling very different emotions.

On Thursday (9/6/2011) I was lucky enough to be at the world premiere of the first Chinese/NSW feature film collaboration 33 Postcards (2011), starring Guy Pearce, Claudia Karvan, Lincoln Lewis and Chinese newcomer Zhu Lin. For a film I was very excited about, I walked away feeling incredibly embarrassed and angry at the type/quality of films Australia is distributing around the world. As you will read in my upcoming review, this is not a film I would recommend to anyone and I am deeply disappointed that such a creative and original premise could be so poorly handled and acted by over using cliche characters and soap opera-esque events. This was not the good start I wanted for my festival viewing season.

However, last night’s screening of Jodi Foster’s new movie The Beaver (2011), starring Mel Gibson (in a return to form performance), Jennifer Lawrence and Foster herself, has restored my faith in this year’s offerings. This was a film I loved! While not perfect it left me profoundly emotional and it was a journey that I was really glad to have taken. The cast were superb, especially Gibson who gave so much depth and credibility to a very troubled character. A top notch film and a definite must see for 2011 (Review to come as well).

But there is still so much more to see over the next week, starting with tomorrow’s documentary screening of Project Nim (2011), from the Academy Award winning team behind Man On Wire (2008), and Terrence Mallick’s Palm d’Or winner Tree of Life (2011) on Tuesday night. So stay tuned as I bring the latest news, reviews and footage from all (that I can get) of this year’s Sydney Film Festival.