See No Evil (2014) Poster

(2014)

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8/10
Three wise monkeys
Kent_Kainer19 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The film, without commentary, leaves you to interpret the scenes yourself. The scenes, cuts and excerpts have certainly been chosen well considered.

All three retired apes shown have been raised by humans. One for the entertainment industry and the other two for science.

The first one; the movie star, now painter; at his birthday party, I saw an ape among humans. Regardless of wondering if he was lonely, he was very charismatic. Like an old man.

The second one, the ape who was taught English, who later got a young second ape, I saw an ape who cannot communicate with conspecifics, or rather he communicates with the conspecific the way humans have taught him to communicate with other humans. The other ape did not understand.

The third ape has at least neurological damages, which, in addition to the obvious external appearance, also affects his behavior. He seems to be the only ape that still has access to conspecifics. And is still allowed to be a bit of an ape.

All three are taken care of, but with two of them I found that questionable, or not appropriate for the species. But I think they have never learned or forgotten to be themselves.
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9/10
Mesmerising, a window and a mirror at the same time
david_gulik20 December 2014
I must warn viewers, this documentary is not well suited for those who get their opinions in the ready-meal aisle. 'See No Evil' provides no commentary which is both its strength and its misfortune as so many have the need for being told what to think when viewing a movie.

'See No Evil' captures three apes in the later stage of their life. Cheeta, a former movie-star turned abstract painter who now lives a comfortable retirement in Palm Springs. Kanzi, a chimpanzee who was taught English and can communicate with her carers on an amazing level. Now relieved of scientific investigation, she has taken it upon herself to teach her son Teco what she has learnt. And Knuckles, who was subjected to all kinds of tests in the fifties and sixties by NASA to further their space-travel endeavour. He now lives out his days in a primate nursing facility trying to cope with the damage his past inflicted upon him.

This documentary offers a view on a species which, more often than not, comes across as remarkably human. Clever editing of the elderly primates and archive footage of their past, gives us a stunning perspective on our own changing understanding of the phrase "With great power, comes great responsibility". With a hauntingly beautiful and thoroughly moving epilogue, this documentary proves to be a true mirror for humanity. It hits like a bomb and clings to your thoughts. And most of all, it leaves you with a sense of awe and wonder for our biological cousins.

'See No Evil' is subdued throughout in both musical accompaniment and camera-work. It knows what it is and does not deviate from its formula giving it a purposeful feel of direction.

Personally, this movie struck me, and it struck me hard. I'd recommend it to anyone and I'll go as far as to say it should be nominated for an Oscar.
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2/10
Weird
felixtekat20 February 2023
There was nothing cruel about this but it was weird. I don't think if the ape could talk it would choose to stay. The expression on the ape's face was total disinterest. Stop anthropomorphizing animals. They may be smart and share some human-like characteristics, but treating them as a roommate for 30 years is just freaky.

Giving Cheetah beer and cigars is conditioning him with your bad habits. Add a birthday cake and you are safely down the road to weirdo-ville.

If you die and these animals are left on there own, they can never return to the wild, be put in a zoo, or anything. Wild animals deserve to be left alone and enjoy there existence without human interference.
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