This movie ROCKED!

The way NIM is treated across the decades is emblematic of how the social sciences in general have evolved - in the dreadful behaviorist stage, the NYU experimenter has no caring for Nim, the young women he gets to raise and teach him, or anyone else - he seems pretty close to pure evil, complete with smug fame and photo opps. Then Nim is "taught" by well meaning people not equipped with knowledge of his chimp nature - as if the whole point is grammatical utterances in sign language! Finally, Bob, the one and only hero of the film cares for Nim at the Ape Research Lab and instead of training, teaching, punishing, etc. just shares play with Nim - imittating Nim at times rather than asking Nim to always "ape" humans. When Nim is put in an animal testing lab, it's Bob who organizes to release him - but then, on to a new trap, the "animal rescue" folks, simpy missionary types who reduce poor Nim back to a lonely exile. A few happy years at the end - lessons learned? We can only hope.

this documentary made me experience virtually every emotion on the emotional spectrum. there were moments when you love what you're seeing, hate what you're seeing, are completely heartbroken then relieved, and more. i think the film was very well done, and the vintage footage was really successful in allowing the viewers to get to know nim's teachers and for me, also the times they lived in - the 70s versus what we know as life today. if you're a science buff, animal lover, whatever - i highly recommend this film.