Lucy the Human Chimp

About Lucy the Human Chimp

"Lucy the Human Chimp" (2021) is an evocative, heart-warming documentary about a chimp who was raised as a human by the American couple Maurice and Jane Temerlin back in the 1960s. This unique experiment arranged a significant question about what separates humans from our closest living relatives. The film charts Lucy's life, from living in human comfort with the Temerlins, to her challenging transition into living in the wild once she became too powerful to manage.

Making / Production

Directed by Alex Parkinson, this film was originally a story which was thought to be too unbelievable to be true. It was produced by Walsh Bros Ltd and was originally aired on HBO Max. The documentary uses home movie footage, interviews and stunning nature cinematography to give life to Lucy's story.

Actors

• Jane Goodall - The world-renowned primatologist, who herself has appeared in footage and interviews. Her insight into chimpanzees and their behavior is valuable for the narrative.
• Janis Carter - The woman who dedicated much of her life to helping Lucy adapt to life in the wild. Narrating part of the story, she gives a first-hand account of Lucy's extraordinary life.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Maurice Tempelin, a psychologist, initially bought Lucy from a Florida primate center in 1964 when she was just two days old.
• Lucy was treated like a human by her 'parents' who taught her to dress herself, eat with silverware, make tea, and even flip through magazines.
• Lucy eventually started showing violent tendencies and was therefore sent to live in The Gambia, to learn to acclimate to life with other chimps.

Quotes

• "Lucy has taught me about what it means to be human - Janis Carter"
• "I thought I would be teaching a chimp about the world, but Lucy taught me - Maurice Temerlin"

Music, Soundtrack

The music for "Lucy the Human Chimp" provides an emotional backdrop that amplifies the unsettling uncanniness of seeing a chimpanzee behaving like a human. Unfortunately, the individual tracks or pieces for the movie are not listed separately.