Product Details

• Actors: F. Murray Abraham, Paul Christie, Howard McGillin, Peter Coyote, Jay O. Sanders
• Directors: Nigel Cole
• Writers: Mark Hobson
• Producers: Suzanne Weinert
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Questar
• DVD Release Date: April 27, 2004
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000228E3Q
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #44,108 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Nature: Koko - A Conversation With Koko" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This program doesn't just talk with an ape, it carries on an intimate, decades-long dialogue with her. The story documents the incredible development of a gorilla named Koko, whose learning of American Sign Language (and understanding of spoken English) gives new meaning to the ideas of animal intelligence and inter-species communication. Witness an animal who not only expresses wants and needs but also exhibits creativity and complex, human-like emotions. After being told that her pet kitten died in an accident, Koko demonstrates deep and sincere sadness-and seems to express exactly that when left alone that night. Most amazingly, she maintains a deep and enduring friendship with her human teacher and playmate, Dr. Penny Patterson. But will Dr. Patterson's innovative experiment end with Koko? Or will Koko give birth and transmit her knowledge to a new ape generation? Narrated by Martin Sheen, this inspiring, unforgettable program seeks the answers. The Gorilla Foundation - The mission of the Foundation is to bring interspecies communication to the public, in order to save gorillas from extinction, and inspire our children to create a better future for all the great apes. Established in 1976, The Gorilla Foundation/Koko.org promotes the protection, preservation and propagation of gorillas. Project Koko, a primary focus of TGF/Koko.org, involves teaching a modified form of American Sign Language to two lowland gorillas, Koko and Michael. In addition, TGF/Koko.org is developing a unique preserve for gorillas on the island of Maui, Hawaii.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 500 pound gorilla in the room, April 15, 2006

By	simpcity - See all my reviews

What a heartbreaker this segment of Nature becomes.

Koko is, of course, the first talking (or signing) gorilla. She was later joined by Michael (who also learned to sign), and they became as brother and sister.

Michael is the dark and silent type. One day, in true Real World fashion, he signs us his dark secret. As a young child, he witnessed the capture and slaughter of his mother for bush meat. He survives the slaughter as a pet, but he is traumatized for life.

This DVD broke my heart twice - once while watching, and then again when I heard the news in April 2000 of Michael's sudden death from heart attack (or, rather, broken heart as we know it must have been). Gets 10 stars in my book - five for Koko and five for Michael.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Koko, November 9, 2006

By	M. J. Raisor "zekeums" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I showed this to my cultural anthropology class as an introduction to language. They loved it. It gave them a whole different perspective on primate behavior and intelligence.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and endearing, May 12, 2007

By	P. Gaudry - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really enjoyed this short film about Koko. It was amazing to see what this gorilla can express! It definitely sparked an interest for me to pursue some of the other films about her.