Jane

National Geographic’s enthralling and enlightening documentary tells the story of how the acclaimed naturalist Jane Goodall arrived in Gombe, Tanzania, in the 1960s and became fascinated with chimpanzees. What makes it extraordinary is director Brett Morgen’s use of rare 16mm film shot by Jane’s former husband, Hugo van Lawick. Previously thought to be lost, the footage was discovered in 2014 in a storage unit and has been cleverly intercut with recent interviews with the legendary primatologist. “From the age of 10, I dreamed of going to live with wild animals and write books about them,” she notes. “Nobody knew anything about chimpanzees. There were no methods or field research. To learn about chimps meant being with them and gaining their trust. So that’s what I did.” Goodall met van Lawick when the Dutch photographer was dispatched by National Geographic. In van Lawick’s footage, chimpanzees kiss, embrace, hold hands, groom one another, and beg for food, and while the animals can have a dark side to their nature, they also clearly experience compassion and love, and can feel angry or sad (and can die of grief), all of which finally forced scientists to admit that humans are not the only creatures on the planet with personalities, intelligence, and emotions. Goodall and van Lawick were married in 1964, and they had a son, nicknamed “Grub,” who accompanied them everywhere, even when van Lawick was transferred to Africa’s Serengeti. But Jane’s heart remained with her work in Gombe and the couple eventually separated in 1974. Now 84, Goodall still travels around the world, advocating for conservancy. An excellent profile, this is highly recommended. Editor’s Choice. (S. Granger)