#Harold T.P. Hayes

[theoscarsproject]

Gorillas in the Mist (1988). The story of Dian Fossey, a scientist who came to Africa to study the vanishing mountain gorillas, and later fought to protect them.

Messy, clunkily paced, and dated, Gorillas in the Mist still somehow managed the unthinkable in the 80s which was to depict a real woman as she was. It empathises with Fossey, and depicts her mission and connection to the gorillas deeply, but doesn't shy from her entitlement and terrorism either. It helps that she's played by Sigourney Weaver, who's always good but is in top form here, playing these shades of Fossey with real nuance. The result is an uneven film grounded by a great performance. 6/10.

[80smovies]

[80smovies]

[80smovies]

Gorillas in the Mist The Story of Dian Fossey