This tale of a hard done by chip places a light on when unethical scientific research and the post 1960s counterculture combine to create an experiment done wrong in Project Nim.

“Get your hands off me you dirty human!” should have read the tagline on Project Nim, for it there ever was a film that can make you bow your head in shame at the ignorant and immoral depths which human beings can plummet, then this is it.

Too harsh? Tell that to Nim, a chimpanzee ripped from his mother’s arms and used in a scientific study named “Project Nim”, which was to determine whether primates can communicate like humans.

Even more unfortunate is that Nim was thrust into a time of spiritual and ethical confusion within mankind: the post ‘60s counterculture and baby boomer era, where ex-hippies resided in upper suburban abodes and partook in unconventional activities, like raising a primate as if it were a human.

Head researcher for “Project Nim” was Herbert Terrace, the first of many villains introduced in this sad yet fascinating story. In his scientific wisdom, he asks the favour of old flame Stephanie LaFarge to take Nim in as part of her family (something of a 1970s upper class hippie Brady Bunch).

Of course the results are a shambles, with LaFarge opting not to monitor this scientific endeavour but instead raise Nim as if he were one of her spoiled brat kids, which included the occasional marijuana toke and exploration of La Farge’s body (ewwww!)

Nim didn’t last long with La Farge and as he grew bigger and bigger, his time with humans became stranger and more dangerous. Many of Nim’s different teachers were college students looking for extra credit, the majority attractive females who would embark in affairs with Terrace. They also felt the brunt of Nim’s increasingly aggressive behaviour.

After Terrace deemed his research a failure Nim found himself in one appalling situation to another, with the behaviour of his human teachers and guardians appalling to say the least. Even those who loved the hairy little bugger brought with them a destructive influence, not to mention an unhealthy habit of getting their primate friend stoned and drunk.

Project Nim is directed by James Marash. His Oscar winning documentary Man on Wire was an example of the great achievements which mankind can reach. Project Nim is its counter.

With archival footage, re-enactments and interviews, Marsh shows how the unethical nature of this brand of scientific research and the post-hippie mentality found in western culture combined to make a freak of nature, with Nim born chimp, raised human and lost somewhere in the middle.

As a result Project Nim is an example of good intentions creating tragic results creating good cinema.