Primatological Pursuits

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by Jennifer de Ita

National Geographic’s documentary, Jane is set to release today at selected theaters. Jane, accounts the early field work of British primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall and her crucial behavioral work with wild chimpanzees. Director, Brett Morgan, masterfully weaves the unseen retrospective 16mm 1962 expedition footage with press clips, scientific data and modern-day video clips of Goodall’s personal inflections. The score of music composer Philip Glass, powerfully embodies the tranquil, intensive and tragic occurrences of nature which are recorded by Nat-Geo wildlife photographer Hugo Van Lawick. Lawick’s camera ingenuity captures the lush landscape of Tanzania, Gombe National Park but his long shots and close composition of Goodall reveal his emerging enthrallment with the pioneering researcher.  

While attending the October 9, 2017, Hollywood Bowl premier, the crowd amassed nearly 17,000 people, including several Hollywood stars such as Angelina Jolie, Jamie Lee Curtis and Judd Apatow. However, despite the star-studded audience and the bustling central location, the outdoor venue besuited Goodall’s lifelong work of mending mankind’s estranged relationship with nature. Goodall took center stage and expressed how she was initially reluctance to participate, in “yet another variation of my story”. However, she concluded that preserving and advocating ecological protections is a constant tug of war. At the end of the night, the youthful and bold depiction of Jane Goodall reminds us to chase our wildest dreams, regardless of any naysayers.  In her final thoughts to the audience, Goodall implored,

​“Right now the world is such a mess and we are living in very dangerous times and time is running out, Climate change, population growth, poverty, unsustainable lifestyles using up natural resources faster than mother nature can replenish them, and I think this documentary shows how things should be and will give people an added push to fight harder to save what's left."

Photos by Jennifer de Ita