Jane

About Jane

The 2017 documentary 'Jane' directed by Brett Morgen highlights the life, work, and discoveries of Jane Goodall, a renowned British primatologist. The documentary delves into her early research studying wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, in the 1960s. Unprecedented in its depth and insight, the film uses over 100 hours of never-before-seen footage that had been stored in National Geographic archives for over five decades.

Making / Production

The film is crafted from a wealth of archival footage from the National Geographic Society and complements it with interviews with Jane Goodall and her family. The directors used state-of-the-art technology only available in the last few years to review and restore footage that has been locked away for decades.

Actors

• Jane Goodall: Playing herself, Goodall provides a breathtaking portrayal of her life and work with the chimpanzees. Her determination, courage, and passion shine brightly in her commentary.
• Hugo Van Lawick: Hugo, Jane's first husband, is seen primarily through archival footage. He adds a human dimension to the movie, and his interactions with Jane and the chimpanzees contribute significantly to the narrative.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• From over 100 hours of unseen footage of Goodall in Tanzania was found in the National Geographic archives, which director Brett Morgen used to make the film.
• Goodall had no formal academic training before she began her study on wild chimpanzees
• Jane Goodall's work at Gombe Stream National Park is considered one of the longest continuous wildlife research projects in the world.

Awards

The film received numerous awards, including the Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Documentary, and the Primetime Emmy Awards for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking and Outstanding Narrator for Jane Goodall.

Quotes

• "Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference." - Jane Goodall
• "What you do makes a difference, you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." - Jane Goodall

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's original score was composed by Philip Glass.
• It consists of both orchestral and instrumental tracks that complement the innate beauty and majesty of the Gombe and its inhabitants.
• The soundtrack received a nomination for Best Original Score by the International Film Music Critics Association.