CHIMPANZEE
An engaging nature documentary that celebrates family and sacrifice.
Should You Watch It?
You should see CHIMPANZEE if your family wants an entertaining nature documentary with a strong moral center. The film keeps viewers engaged through beautiful scenes of African forests and close-up images of Oscar, an adorable baby chimpanzee.
Its central lesson is simple and worthwhile: young creatures need parents to teach and support them, and family care matters. The film also includes sacrifice and unexpected help when Oscar is left without his mother. It does not reference God, but it shows the complexity of nature and the beauty of newborn life.
Some chimpanzee fighting may be too intense for very young children. For everyone else, CHIMPANZEE is one of the better nature documentaries.
The practical answer: WORTH THE TRIP for families seeking a beautiful, uplifting documentary.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn the jungles of Africa, Oscar is a young chimpanzee learning how to survive by following his mother. She teaches him daily skills, including how to crack open nuts with a rock.
When Oscar’s chimpanzee community enters a rival group’s territory in search of fruit, danger follows. Oscar must face a new threat and find help from an unexpected source.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means CHIMPANZEE is an excellent nature documentary. It keeps viewers engaged and focused throughout, while beautiful scenes of the African forests make the film aesthetically enjoyable.
The close-up shots of Oscar add much of the film’s charm. The documentary also holds attention through its depiction of chimpanzee communities, their survival skills, and the dangers they face. It is one of the better nature documentaries.
The Worldview
CHIMPANZEE presents a strong moral worldview with positive redemptive elements. It celebrates the beauty of family, the importance of parents, and the way young creatures learn from those who care for them. The mother chimpanzee’s care for her baby and the unexpected help Oscar receives emphasize sacrifice, protection, and compassion.
The film shows the complexity of nature and the beauty of newborn life. It does not reference God, but it presents the natural world as something beautiful to observe. Happily, it contains no radical environmentalist ideology.
The film’s central longing is for family care and support. Scripture likewise recognizes the goodness of children and the responsibility to care for them: “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD” (Psalm 127:3).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong moral worldview with some redemptive elements of sacrifice includes mother chimpanzee cares for and sacrifices for her baby, main chimpanzee becomes a savior to the youngest chimpanzee of the group who has no mother, and movie shows the importance of parents and family, stressing that the young learn from their parents and need them to teach and support them; no foul language; violence between the chimpanzees which may get scary for young children; no sexual content; no nudity; no alcohol use; no smoking or drug use; and nothing else objectionable.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Oscar learns survival skills by watching his mother. What are some important things children learn from parents and other faithful adults?
Proverbs 1:8–9 · Deuteronomy 6:6–7Oscar’s mother cares for and sacrifices for him. How can love move us to sacrifice for others?
John 15:13 · Philippians 2:3–4Oscar receives help from an unexpected source. When has someone helped you unexpectedly, and how can you notice people who need help?
Galatians 6:2 · Hebrews 13:16The film shows the beauty and complexity of nature. What should we learn from observing God’s creation?
Psalm 19:1 · Genesis 1:31The Final Word
CHIMPANZEE offers beautiful filmmaking, an engaging story of survival, and a memorable picture of family care and sacrifice. Some fighting may frighten very young children, but this is one of the better nature documentaries for families. WORTH THE TRIP.
