Saturday, July 14, 2007:

Koko, a Talking Gorilla (1978)

Koko, a Talking Gorilla (1978)
Koko, a Talking Gorilla, dir: Barbet Schroeder
Comments:
I was shocked and appalled at two things in this film: 1) Penny hitting Koko twice after Koko bit Michael, and 2) Koko being fed chicken and hamburgers when gorillas are vegetarian in the wild. It's possible I'm looking at the situation through my own particular belief system, and that there's nothing particularly shocking by #2, and that #1 was truly the only way for Penny to assert her dominance and keep herself safe. But, really, I doubt it (the incident with Michael didn't have to involve Penny, did it?).

Still it was a fascinating film and I was gratified that it addressed the ethical issues around Koko's captivity and acculturation.
 
 
Probably should have chosen the shot of Koko walking down the stairs instead.
 
 
Yeah, that other shot was better. Not sure why I went with that other one, but now I've swapped them out.
 
 
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