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Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People

Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People

20167.60h 58m

Overview

Documentary telling the extraordinary story of Koko, the only 'talking' gorilla in the world, and her lifelong relationship with Penny Patterson. Project Koko started as a PhD project to teach sign language to a baby gorilla, but as Koko began to communicate with Penny, an intense bond formed between them. Penny has now been with Koko for over 40 years and claims Koko can reveal fresh insights into the workings of an animal's mind. Koko's unique life with Penny has been filmed every step of the way. Over 2,000 hours of footage chart the most dramatic moments - Penny's battle to keep Koko from being taken back to the zoo in which she was born, Penny's clash with academic critics who doubted her claims and the image of Koko mourning the death of her kitten.

Directed by Jonathan Taylor
0

Top Cast

Bertie Carvel

Bertie Carvel

Narrator (voice)

Koko

Koko

Self

P

Penny Patterson

Self

D

Dale Djerassi

Self

L

Lisa Schuster

Self

A

Ann Southcombe

Self

M

Mitzi Phillips

Self

Robin Williams

Robin Williams

Self (archive footage)

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio

Self (archive footage)

Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel

Self (archive footage)

Themes & Keywords

gorillazoohuman animal relationshipsign languagesanimal intelligence

About Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People

Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People is a documentary, tv movie film released in 2016 exploring themes of gorilla, zoo, human animal relationship, sign languages, animal intelligence. Directed by Jonathan Taylor, it stars Bertie Carvel, Koko, Penny Patterson. Documentary telling the extraordinary story of Koko, the only 'talking' gorilla in the world, and her lifelong relationship with Penny Patterson. Project Koko started as a PhD project to teach sign language to a baby gorilla, but as Koko began to communicate with Penny, an intense bond formed between them. Penny has now been with Koko for over 40 years and claims Koko can reveal fresh insights into the workings of an animal's mind. Koko's unique life with Penny has been filmed every step of the way. Over 2,000 hours of footage chart the most dramatic moments - Penny's battle to keep Koko from being taken back to the zoo in which she was born, Penny's clash with academic critics who doubted her claims and the image of Koko mourning the death of her kitten.

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