Chimp Empire 

A 4-part Netflix series

Season 1 released April 19, 2023

Directed by James Reed

Narrated by Mahershala Ali

It’s not for everyone. Some may find it a bit slow going. But Chimp Empire is a very good documentary about a very interesting subject: the lifestyle and behavior of Homo Sapiens’ closest relation. It explores the fascinating world of the largest chimpanzee society ever discovered as they navigate complex social politics, family dynamics, and dangerous territory disputes.

By a happy coincidence I’m reading (listening to) Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, in which Yuval Harari explores the past, present, and future development of man. Much of what he explores in Homo Deus (and his previous bestseller Sapiens) focuses on what separates Homo sapiens from other apes. Perhaps the most important thing, Harari argues, is man’s ability to enlist the cooperation of other members of his species. Not just a dozen or two but thousands and hundreds of thousands and sometimes even millions.

As I said, the movie moves slowly, at a pace that seems to replicate the pace of life that chimpanzees enjoy. But it is beautifully filmed and perfectly narrated. No explanations or guesses about what any particular behavior means. The narration simply states the facts and points out the details, which allows the viewer to form his own interpretation of what is going on. (How, for example, does what we’re seeing fit in with – or contradict – Harari’s argument?)

Some of what is depicted in Chimp Empire are behaviors that I was aware of, such as the grooming chimps do to form bonds and keep each other healthy. But there were so many other things I learned (and saw) that startled and stirred me.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the production was something the documentary didn’t address: how physically and emotionally close the film crew got to the chimps, and how long this relationship must have lasted for them to be able to document all they did.

You can watch the trailer here. But be aware that it’s overly dramatized, highlighting the aggressive side of chimpanzee behavior, whereas the documentary itself spends more time on how the chimps cooperate and care for each other.

And click here to read a “Behind the Scenes” account of how difficult it was to make the documentary. (The knowledge of the native guides was amazing! Something I’ve experienced myself on a safari.)