Project Nim
User Score
7.2 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 18
  3. Negative: 4 out of 18

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  1. joomjim4
    Jun 18, 2012
    9
    The documentary which portrays the loveliness and unconditional state of an animal which is also capable of transformed into something unimaginable. At the same time reflects the selfishness, horribleness of how people took advantage of this helpless chimp and reflects an aspect of the
  2. RONGIU
    Mar 11, 2012
    10
    Sorry, Italian / English mechanic.
    1973 November : A small chimpanzee born in captivity in Norman Oklahoma / suiprimati in a research center. A few days later, the puppy is removed from the mother, already accustomed to this oozing, after having abbattutacon a dart containing tranquilizer. The little chimp is then inserted in a "family man". To take care of him is a former student, wealt    hy, with a degree in psychology Stephanie LaFarge / and with a lot 'of their children by adding those of her new husband.
    Nim was the beginning of the project, perhaps the most radical experiment of its kind, which aims to demonstrate the possibility that a chimp has to communicate through sign language, if raised, nurtured and raised as a human child. The direction of the experiment is carried out by a psychology professor at Columbia University Herbert S. Terrace /. Once acquired sign language, or rather the greatest number of words and a bit 'rough grammar, one hopes to steal his thoughts, his moods. If successful, the consequences are nothing short of staggering, lack of communication between man and his nearest relative was struck and forever new frontiers of communication open and so forth. The question - What does it mean to be human? - Remains to be redefined.
    The new tenant has an immediate and positive approach affectively with her adoptive family, and certainly does not mind the residence on the Upper West Side of Manhattan where spaces wide and especially lots and lots of people to allow them to express themselves better. Learn quickly and in a short space of a few months began to communicate his needs. She loves playing with human brothers acquired, and often the furnishings of the house suffered significant material deformation. Clever, skillful, becomes more and more clever, even his body begins to harden. Nim is now too big for this family, sooobbh! / Is then transferred into a large house owned by Columbia University. But why is relieved of Jennie LaFarge? According to the prof. Terrace LaFarge has the whole family against Nim a more libertine "educational". Responsible for this are a number of students, the first of these Laura-Ann Petitto /, which according to the LaFarge seems to have been chosen especially for his physique. For each of them, Nim leaves indelible marks on the skin of his canines, especially when it senses a dangerous situation for him.
    At the age of five years, has gained "only" a vocabulary of more than 130 words and no grammar, too little to continue the experiment. 130 words are hardly enough to have your say in the various fields of knowledge - Sigh! The experiment is over. The new residence of Nim is in a primate research center in Oklahoma. In this place will have to learn to live with his fellows who had never seen before. Bum! Bum! Benedict homo sapiens sapiens. / A decision is a disaster!
    Having gained some 'of human culture allows Nim, in the reception center, to institute positive relationships with the security personnel, maintenance and so forth. With them, from time to time, drinking beer and does not mind the smoke. This structure has to deal with its budget, which red for some time, hopefully in a shower of green dollars. The rain did not arrive. Nim is so sold to a laboratory that is interested in scientific research applied to drugs located in upstate New York. Yuck!
    Nim does not know the drumbeat of human metaphor. The news of his current state is highlighted by the press and is a lawyer out of the norm as they do to give him the freedom he deserves. Nim is purchased from an animal rights activist and taken to a shelter in Texas. There he remained until his death from cardiac arrest in 2000.
    Nim has surely forgiven, but many humans who have had contact with him scientific cooperation, more or less long, probably still suffer from insomnia so obsessed by his face.    … Expand
  3. metamotivcritic
    Jul 16, 2011
    9
    Although a bit overly manipulative and melodramatic, this is nevertheless a fascinating and heart-wrenching story, particularly for those of us who knew only about the scientific debate over the nature and origins of language that was the initial impetus for the Nim study. The participants/characters are amazingly forthcoming; and the disconnect between the scientific background of the project and the human (and chimp) stories "behind the scenes" couldn't be more striking or more telling. It is a movie that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally powerful. (Note: it is also rather disconcerting to see the major discrepancy between the reviews of male and female users on IMDB, although men come out as both heroes and villains in the movie!)… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. New Orleans Times-Picayune
    Reviewed by: Mike Scott
    Sep 16, 2011
    100
    Extraordinarily engaging but surprisingly sobering.
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  2. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Joe Williams
    Aug 12, 2011
    88
    There's so much higher intelligence in Project Nim that simply digesting it feels like evolutionary progress.
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  3. Empire
    Reviewed by: Dan Jolin
    Aug 8, 2011
    80
    Gripping, heart-wrenching, powerful and a sad indictment of scientific practice, which shows that 'human' and 'humane' are all-too-often mutually exclusive.
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