Jeri Jacquin
On March 12th to coincide with Women's History Month,
National Geographic Documentary Films along with director Brett Morgen have
chosen the most amazing women to tell the story of her life in the documentary
with heart about JANE.
A very lovely 26-year-old British woman decides at a young
age that she wants to be with animals in the wild and this documentary gives us
all a glimpse of how it all began. Jane Goodall, with no formal education or
training, was chosen by archaeologist and paleontologist Louis Leakey in 1960
to go to Gombe , Tanzania
Spending days traversing the jungles trying to get close to
the chimpanzees, there were moments of frustration but not enough to stop her.
Her patience would begin to pay off as she is slowly accepted by a group
(called Kasakela chimpanzee community) that allows Jane to move freely among
them. As she begins to document their behaviors in an unobtrusive way, she learns
that their behaviors towards their babies and the way they use tools is
something the world never knew before.
Giving the chimpanzees names, and my favorite is David
Greybeard, made it all them all the more personal for Jane. Along with Greybeard
was the dominant and very large male Goliath, Mr. McGregor who was considered
the grumpy old man of the group, Flo who would have so many babies of her own
including Fifi and Flint
Their personable and affectionate side was clearly evident
but their aggressive side took Jane by surprise and the effects of that were
sometimes heartbreaking. Jane came to understand that this was the darker side
of their nature which she said proved that their were social similarities
between the chimpanzees and human beings.
That is when National Geographic sends Dutch filmmaker Hugo
van Lawick to document all of Jane's discoveries. What is captured is the
purest example of what Jane has accomplished and the world is taken by her. The
world isn't the only one taken by her as a relationship between she and Hugo
becomes serious. So much so that they eventually marry and Jane has a life
outside of Gombe as the chimpanzees are continually studied by students and
grants.
Martin is sent to the Serengeti in Africa
and Jane joins him along with their young son Hugo who would grow up among the
animals. The Gombe always called to Jane even though she knew her place was now
with her family. When a horrible outbreak hit the chimpanzee community, Jane
was devastated as changes in her own personal life would lead her back to where
it all began.
Director Brett Morgen has created groundbreaking and
acclaimed documentaries that include the 1999 work ON THE ROPES, the 2002 THE
KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE and the 2015 work KURT COBAIN: Montage of Heck. His
work JANE premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and
released nationally by National Geographic in 2017.
National Geographic Documentary Films brings the world
premium feature documentaries that take on timely and globally relevant stories
from the best documentary makers in the world. Bringing knowledge and
understanding of our work for over 130 years, they are pushing the boundaries
of storytelling reaching 730 million people in 172 countries and 43 languages.
For more of what they have to offer please visit www.natgeotv.com.
JANE has been nominated by BAFTA, Alliance of Women Film
Journalists, Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival, Austin Film
Critics Association along with so many more. It has won recognition from the
Chicago Film Critics Association, Cinema Eye Honors Awards, Critics’ Choice
Documentary Awards, PGA Awards and the National Board of Review along with so
many others.
What makes this documentary stunning is that there is so
much about Jane Goodall's life that I didn't know. I actually love chimpanzees
myself so followed her work over these many years. Most of what I knew was
about her work which is what makes JANE a must-see because there is so much
more about her to know. Trying to learn as much as she can about the
chimpanzees, she also learns how to have a marriage and a child while
continuing a career that isn't just a career - but a life dream.
Her activism for these amazing creatures is well documented but
seeing footage that has been rediscovered, Jane says, "Seeing the film for
the first time was incredibly nostalgic; there was something very immediate and
real and unconstrained. JANE shows things as they were, bringing to light
people's characters, especially mine and Hugo's, in such an intimate way. It
took me back to the best days of my life in a way that none of the other
documentaries have."
Morgen says, "The narrative I was interested in first
and foremost was this story of female empowerment, particularly in the era that
Jane was working in. The film is very much a love story, except the love is not
between a man and woman, it's between a woman and her work."
Today, Dr. Jane Goodall travels around the world speaking
about the threats facing chimpanzees as well as the environmental crisis
happening and her reasons for hope. She is currently the U.N. Messenger of
Peace and to learn more about this amazing woman please visit
www.janegoodall.org.
I am absolutely moved by JANE because she truly was a woman
before her time. Unafraid to take on such a task without training or education,
she jumped in and refused to give up until the chimpanzees accepted her as one
of their own. Learning from her mistakes and understanding that these creatures
are something very special (as all creatures truly are), she embraced and
continues to embrace every aspect of what she has learned and continues to
learn.
National Geographic and director Morgen should be so proud
of themselves in bringing a very personal look at Jane Goodall's life. Having
seen many of the pieces on her work, JANE brought in an intimate look at her
life and made her even more endearing if that is at all possible.
On March 12th, National Geographic Documentary Films brings
the story of a woman and her many loves in the story of JANE.
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