Film review: CHIMPANZEE

A beautiful film with a light naration on the apes’ musings
ChimpanzeeChimpanzee
Chimpanzee

Mark Linfield and Alastair Fothergill’s beautiful film soars above and below the forest canopy to capture a family of apes in the jungles of Africa.

Tim Allen provides light-hearted narration throughout the film that doubles as the apes’ internal musings. “It’s a special day in this deep, dark forest...” he begins, introducing us to three month-old chimpanzee Oscar clinging to his mother Isha for support.

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They belong to a larger pack under the control of an experienced alpha male called Freddy.

“He’s large and in charge,” continues Allen, explaining that Freddy is master of one fertile section of the forest, which is under constant threat from a rival band led by the merciless Scar.

Tension creeps into the narrative when Scar and his posse raid a grove of fig trees on the eastern border of Freddy’s domain and the incursion goes unnoticed.

Scar and co venture further into enemy territory, setting up a climactic showdown with Freddy.

(U, 78 min) Documentary. Narrated by Tim Allen. Directors: Mark Linfield, Alastair Fothergill.

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