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Koko: A Talking Gorilla

Play trailer Poster for Koko: A Talking Gorilla 1978,  1h 25m,  Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 100% 5 Reviews Tomatometer 86% 500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
French filmmaker Barbet Schroeder chronicles the life of Koko, an amazing female gorilla who is trained by Stanford University researcher Dr. Penny Patterson to communicate her feelings via basic American Sign Language. Through interviews with scientists and researchers, Schroeder also examines the ethics of animal experimentation and asks the difficult question of whether highly intelligent animals with seemingly human emotions should be granted the same rights as people.

Critics Reviews

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Janet Maslin New York Times Sep 30, 2006
4/5
Mr. Schroeder has assembled this funny, provocative documentary with gratifying intelligence and care. Go to Full Review
Eric Henderson Slant Magazine Jul 2, 2006
3/4
To swipe a lame pun from a Tales from the Crypt comic, Koko is sure the gorilla of my dreams. Go to Full Review
Jeremy Heilman MovieMartyr.com Jan 8, 2008
55/100
It confronts the viewer with several questions that cannot be easily answered, providing considerable food for thought. Go to Full Review
Peter Canavese Groucho Reviews Jul 10, 2006
3/4
Sprinkled comments provide enough intellectual provocation to begin debate, but the main course is Koko's wide-ranging behavior. Go to Full Review
Christopher Null Filmcritic.com Jul 5, 2006
4/5
spend a little time with Koko and you'll start to fall under her spell. Go to Full Review
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Koko: A Talking Gorilla

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Barbet Schroeder

Director

Penny Patterson

Actor

Karl H. Pribram

Actor

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Koko: A Talking Gorilla

Koko: A Talking Gorilla (1978) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis French filmmaker Barbet Schroeder chronicles the life of Koko, an amazing female gorilla who is trained by Stanford University researcher Dr. Penny Patterson to communicate her feelings via basic American Sign Language. Through interviews with scientists and researchers, Schroeder also examines the ethics of animal experimentation and asks the difficult question of whether highly intelligent animals with seemingly human emotions should be granted the same rights as people.
Director
Barbet Schroeder
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 25m
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