Page 2 October 19, 2017 TORRANCE TRIBUNE
Entertainment
Check It Out Film Review
By Morgan Rojas
for www.cinemacy.com
When I was young, I wanted to be Jane
Goodall. My love of monkeys aside, I was
inspired by the strong and confident woman
who appeared on the covers of magazines,
championing women’s independence and respect
in leadership roles. The genesis of Goodall’s
expansive and colorful career is explored in Jane,
the new film from famed documentarian Brett
Morgen (Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, The Kid
Stays in The Picture). The movie is cinematic
in its aesthetic (including an enchanting score
from Philip Glass) while keeping to Morgen’s
minimalist style. Jane is a powerhouse film
that not only sheds light on this incredible
woman, but also serves as a reminder to stop
and appreciate the natural wonders and beauty
in our surroundings.
Yes, there have been a number of films
chronicling the life and times of Jane Goodall,
who is most widely known for her study of
chimpanzees and their behavior in the wild--
but this is not just another documentary. Jane
was comprised of footage shot by notable
wildlife photographer (and her eventual
husband) Hugo van Lawick during her
assignment in Gombe, Tanzania in the 1960s.
What truly makes this film special is the
fact that this archived footage--140 hours of
16mm color footage, to be exact--was only
recently discovered by National Geographic.
Upon finding this treasure trove of material, Nat
Geo called upon Brett Morgen to piece together
a story that would serve as the definitive indepth
portrait of Goodall’s life, and the result
is nothing short of transfixing.
The film is told in a linear format aided by
the present-day interviews from Jane herself,
which are interwoven sporadically throughout.
As she talks about traveling to Tanzania at
the age of 26 with no formal college training,
images of a vibrant young Jane hiking through
the wilderness in high-top Converse and her
khaki jungle uniform fill the screen. Here we
see a self-proclaimed “naïve” young girl braving
the Gombe Stream alone and coming face to
face with a group of chimpanzees, whose trust
would take many months to earn.
These never-before-seen moments of Jane’s
initial bonding with chimpanzees and the
relationship she would develop with them over
time are priceless. One of the first times Jane
witnesses a chimp use a tool to extract bugs
from a hole for food is caught on camera.
It is then when she realizes that similarities
between humans and chimpanzees exist in
much more than genetic make-up, but also
in emotion, intelligence and the hierarchy
of relationships. These findings catapulted
Jane to international acclaim as she brought
controversial observations to the forefront
of science.
Jane highlights the substantial impact Goodall
has made on this planet, as well as encourages
exploration and environmental conservation.
But perhaps the most refreshing reason to
be grateful for this archived footage is its
timeliness, given the string of recent cultural
events. Jane was a pioneer for women in science
and a trailblazer for those who pursued their
passion instead of just being satisfied with
societal expectations. Those who see Jane will
no doubt walk away with newfound respect
and admiration for her unassuming feminism
and her contribution to the world.
Jane is not rated. 90 minutes. Opening at
The Landmark this Friday. •
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By Roz Templin, Library Assistant,
El Segundo Public Library
When the English Fall is a quiet book, yet
with great impact. An Amish order in Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania experiences the aftermath
of a solar storm, complete with visions of the
Aurora Borealis, interpreted as “angels” by
some viewing the sight. The “English” (all those
participating in the modern world outside their
order) collapse under the stress of the fall of
their way of life and unease turns to violence
upon a peaceful community.
Jacob is a witness to this catastrophe, making
daily entries into his diary. Before the storm,
he writes of everyday farm and labor duties, his
family (wife Hannah, son Jacob and daughter
Sadie) and interactions with those in his Amish
community as well as the “outsiders,” neighbors
and those they deal with for business reasons.
Jacob records the (at first) slow descent into
fear that his fellow citizens experience. The
power grid goes down and airplanes, automobiles
and farm machinery no longer work. Soon
the stores have empty shelves and people run
out of food. Before long Jacob and his family
see people walking along the road, carrying
what they can and looking for help. Local law
enforcement and military personnel make visits
to the local farms to share news and requisition
supplies and food. The Amish freely share
what they have and listen grimly to what little
information is available about this plunge into
darkness. Stories of looting and, ultimately,
killing make their way into Jacob’s home.
The question the Amish face is whether to
face violence with arms or to remain peaceful
even when confronted by those who would
harm them (or worse). They cannot turn away
those in need, yet they don’t have the means
to assist all those who need help. What really
is “civilization” and what happens when that
concept begins to unravel?
This is a book that discusses the deep subjects
of faith and morality that delves into what is
good and evil and all of the shades of grey in
between. The author writes with spare clarity
in his prose and asks the reader to consider
what it truly means to be human. There is
opportunity to think long and hard to answer
“what if …” It may be an exercise you would
find interesting.
Our library staff is ready and willing to point
you in the right direction of more knowledge
and entertainment. Visit us often! •
Roz Templin.
When the English Fall by David Williams.
Morgen’s Jane is an Intimate and
Immersive Cinematic Experience
Jane Goodall in Jane. Courtesy of National Geographic.
When the English Fall Delivers
Quiet, But Riveting Message