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Koko: A Talking Gorilla (French: Koko, le gorille qui parle) is a 1978 French documentary film directed by Barbet Schroeder that focuses on Francine Patterson and her work with Koko, the gorilla. Patterson claims to have taught Koko to communicate with humans using symbols taken from American Sign Language. The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival.[1][2]

Koko: A Talking Gorilla
DVD cover art
Directed by	Barbet Schroeder
Produced by	Margaret Ménégoz
Starring	Koko Francine Patterson
Cinematography	Néstor Almendros
Edited by	Denise De Casabianca Dominique Auvray
Distributed by	Les Films du Losange The Criterion Collection
Release date	October 1978
Running time	80 minutes
Country	France
Languages	English French

Synopsis

The film introduces Koko soon after she was brought from the San Francisco Zoo to Stanford University by Francine Patterson for a controversial experiment. She would be taught American Sign Language.

Reception

Janet Maslin of The New York Times called the film "handsomely photographed", and wrote: "Koko does present some fascinating insights into matters of behavior and education. And Mr. Schroeder has assembled this funny, provocative documentary with gratifying intelligence and care."[3]

Home media

Koko: A Talking Gorilla was released on VHS.[4] In 2010, the film was released on DVD by the Criterion Collection.[5][6]

References

External links

• Koko: A Talking Gorilla at IMDb
• Barbet and Koko: An Equivocal Love Affair an essay by Gary Indiana at the Criterion Collection

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