#340: SCHROEDER, Barbet: Koko: A Talking Gorilla (1978)

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SCHROEDER, Barbet (France)
Koko: A Talking Gorilla [1978]
Spine #340
DVD


In 1977, acclaimed director Barbet Schroeder and cinematographer Nestor Almendros entered the universe of the world's most famous primate to create the captivating documentary Koko: A Talking Gorilla. The film introduces us to Koko soon after she was brought from the San Francisco Zoo to Stanford University by Dr. Penny Patterson for a controversial experiment — she would be taught the basics of human communication through American Sign Language. An entertaining, troubling, and still relevant documentary, Koko: A Talking Gorilla sheds light on the ongoing ethical and philosophical debates over the individual rights of animals and brings us face-to-face with an amazing gorilla caught in the middle.

80 minutes
Color
Monaural
1:33:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2006
Director


Barbet Schroeder was 37 when he directed Koko: A Talking Gorilla.

Other Schroeder films in the Collection:

#223: Maîtresse (1973)
#153: General Idi Amin Dada (1974)

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Sixteen-page booklet featuring an essay by Gary Indiana and an homage to Koko from Marguerite Duras.

Commentary

None.

Video interview

With Schroeder.
Alternate

French-language audio track.
Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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