Koko, a Talking Gorilla
Koko, le gorille qui parle
Barbet Schroeder
Koko is a 7-year-old gorilla that has been taught sign language by a couple of psychologists from Stanford University. He is presented as a subject in a scientific experiment to see whether animals can be educated or not.
With : Penny Patterson, Carl Pribam, Saul Kitchener, Roger Fouts
Image : Nestor Almendros
Sound : Lee Alexander, Jay Miracle
Editing : Dominique Auvray, Denise de Casabianca
Music : Gutta Catoni, Maria Embiricos
Image : Nestor Almendros
Sound : Lee Alexander, Jay Miracle
Editing : Dominique Auvray, Denise de Casabianca
Music : Gutta Catoni, Maria Embiricos
Production : Les Films du Losange, INA
Distribution: Les Films du Losange
Distribution: Les Films du Losange
Originally Barbet Schroeder wanted to treat this as a fiction, but the project had to be abandoned for financial reasons. He decided to use the tapes that he had recorded for his research. "I now think that this was the best solution. In a drama I'd have spent three-quarters of the time telling the story, whereas in a 1½-hour documentary I could give the gorilla time to exist" (Barbet Schroeder). With this, his second documentary, he looks into the possibility of a real dialogue between animals and man. The barrier which used to separate animals from humans has fallen with Koko, since he can speak, can recognise himself in a mirror, can feel and express his emotions. Barbet said that "Idi Amin is a caricature of power, Koko is the caricature of our world".