Synopsis: Jane Goodall, a young and untrained woman, challenges the male dominated scientific consensus of her time with her chimpanzee research and revolutionizes people’s understanding of the natural world. (Google)
Cast: Jane Goodall
Written by: Brett Morgen
Directed by: Brett Morgen

In 1960s, when Jane Goodall was assigned to study chimpanzees in their natural habitat in Tanzania, she didn’t even have any degree or prior experience of working in the field, other than her brewing passion and an abundant love for animals. Her life and work are the basis of Bret Morgen’s documentary JANE. Cleverly edited from hundreds of hours of footage, this documentary chronicles not only Goodall’s role as a researcher, but also as a wife and mother.

Morgen is extremely lucky to have posessed these monumental archival footage of Godall’s research, which were shot by Godall’s research partner (whom she later married) Hugo Van Lawick, considered to be one of the best wildlife photographers of all time. The gorgeous color-edited footage, weaved by beautiful score by Phillip Glass make this doc much more than just a National Geography special.

JANE attentively outlined Godall’s monumental role in the scientific field. She treats the chimpanzees with patience and respect, earning their trust, leading to a groundbreaking discovery which still continues for more than 50 years. Her perseverence of achieving her dreams while battling sexism in a male-dominated area really is nothing short of inspiring. She constantly drew parallel from the life of the primates she studied into her own personal journey as a self-reflection, which made her life really compelling.

Though it got a little dragged towards the end, there were genuinely rousing moments in JANE, both delightful and heartbreaking. There were subtle hints that some of the scenes might be perceived as a little dramatized; but with its sharp editing, the story really feel it was interlaced almost seamlessly. With JANE, Bret Morgen has made a memoir which honors its subject’s life and her work with profound respect and admiration. [B+]

A copy of my review on Instagram.