Koko, a female gorilla, is trained by Dr. Penny Patterson to communicate her feelings through American Sign Language. By interviewing scientists and researchers, the film asks the difficult question of whether animals with seemingly human emotions should be granted the same rights as people.

This candid documentary from Barbet Schroeder digs into the humanity of a speaking gorilla. Do animals feel protected when cared for by zookeepers—or are they better off in the wild? A provoking, humorous study of behaviour and development, Koko asks a question as relevant as it is enthralling.