Jane’s Journey has been out in our movie theatres for a little while now, but unfortunately it has received very little fanfare. Having just seen it, and because on SoWhat.mobi we always try to discuss movies that matter, I decided to review it here as an absolute bucket list must see.
Dr. Jane Goodall is an incredible force of nature, if you will excuse the pun. She was sent by the famous paleontologist Dr. Louis Leakey into the wilds of Gombe in Tanzania as a raw and untrained twentysomething to study chimpanzees. Since then she has become a world renowned primatologist who made landmark discoveries that placed both Gombe and her particular field firmly on the world map. With her beauty and vivacious nature combined with a razor-sharp intellect and natural passion for her subject, Goodall was one of the first 'celebrity scientists' in contemporary culture. She popularised her subject, making it accessible and attractive for the average layman. At the age of 55, Jane's life journey took on a new turn as she became convicted about the desperate environmental challenges our planet faces, and for the last 20 years she has spent 300 days out of the year travelling as she educates people and develops programs to make a difference.
In Jane's Journey, German filmmaker Lorenz Knauer chronicles Dr. Goodall's story, using archival footage and photos to depict her very early days as armed only with notebook and pencil, she courageously followed chimpanzees through the dangerous wilderness. The movie then tracks the growth of her fame and the establishment of Gombe as an academic centre and national park, and then follows her personal evolution in becoming an iconic and tireless activist environmentalism.
We learn about the different programs Jane Goodall has been instrumental in setting up, such as Roots and Shoots which assists children in developing projects that help people, animals and the environment. Her natural magnetism and joyful hope-filled personality shines through the screen as we learn more about her fascinating life. We also learn through actual interviews how she has impacted other famous people such as Angelina Jolie, Pierce Brosnan and Kofi Annan. Jane’s passion to help anyone and everyone who is suffering - people, animals and environment - is utterly inspiring, and watching this movie will not only educate you but also bring hope as it details the differences her efforts have already made.
Jane’s Journey is highly, highly recommended. Four stars out of five.