Songs of the Gorilla Nation: A Journey of Connection and Self-Discovery

Title: Songs Of The Gorilla Nation
Description: Songs of the Gorilla Nation follows the true story of Dawn Prince-Hughes, from growing up and living with undiagnosed autism to her self-discovery as a young woman that began —after a long stretch of despair, depression and homelessness — with a connection to a gorilla in the Seattle Woodland Park Zoo. This connection began a lifelong quest of understanding as a deep creative thinker, and ultimately as a primatologist, to show that apes fulfill all of the criteria that currently define personhood. As the gorillas revealed for Dawn how to relate to humans thru the “opaque glass” of Asperger’s Syndrome, she connected to ancestral memory that “joined five million years of evolution and the generations travelled.” Dawn’s exquisitely perceptive voice and thought provoking story inspires us to find our own looking glass to see that autism is a way of sensing the world — the whole world — of creating and knowing.
Genre: Feature Film
Date Created: 03-28-24
Contact: info@cinemosaic.net, assistant@invisiblepics.com

Songs Of The Gorilla Nation: A Powerful Exploration of Connection and Identity

Songs of the Gorilla Nation is a poignant feature film that chronicles the true story of Dawn Prince-Hughes, who navigates the complexities of undiagnosed autism while forging an extraordinary bond with a gorilla at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo. This deeply personal narrative unfolds against the backdrop of Dawn’s struggles with despair and homelessness, ultimately highlighting her journey towards self-discovery and acceptance through a unique connection with another species.

Directed by Lydia Dean Pilcher, the film is produced by an exceptional team including Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner, ensuring a profound and sensitive representation of Dawn’s life. As the gorillas help her bridge the gap between her perception of the world and her human experiences, the film invites audiences to reflect on autism as a distinct way of sensing reality. With a thought-provoking voice and rich emotional depth, Songs of the Gorilla Nation promises to resonate with viewers, encouraging a broader understanding of personhood across species.