USA. 1996. 53 min Director: Flavia Fontes Also available: French Version, the making of & additional footage

Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives. They are also known to be intensely social creatures capable of close and enduring attachments.
The intimate, affectionate interaction of man and chimp in day-to-day life will intrigue animal behaviorists as well as general audiences.

Synopsis: This is a story of an unusual nuclear family, Roberta and Phil and the two chimpanzees they have adopted, Charlie and his half sister Casey. It shows the joys and challenges of life with our closest primate relatives. It investigates their adaptive abilities when removed from their natural habitat, their amazing mental capabilities, and the bonding love that exists between chimpanzees and humans when they share such intimate space.
Flavia Fontes lived with this unusual family on and off for three years to capture these spontaneous and revealing moments. She observes Charlie learning to use keys, painting pictures, and throwing kisses at a friendly voice on the telephone. Awards & Festivals (click here)