Apes hunt, fight, and grow up in absorbing nature docu.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Orangutans show their dominance through fights and intimidating displays of power to maintain dominance, attract the opposite sex, and establish territories. One male self-isolates from the group. Another has a fresh wound on his face and a severed thumb from a battle. Orangutans hunt and feed off other forest creatures and learn to avoid those that may hurt them. An ape receives multiple wasp stings. Young orangutans must learn to survive and be increasingly self-sufficient. Around 80% of the orangutans' jungles have disappeared, and their future could be uncertain depending on encroaching human development.
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Males make calls and establish dominance to be chosen by breeding females. Older males befriend younger females to have a better shot at being chosen as a mate when the females are old enough to breed. A male seems to be having trouble "getting in the mood" to breed, so a female pokes him in a "delicate area" then puts her rear end in his face.
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Orangutan Research Project. Other nature documentaries, particularly those narrated by Attenborough.
Educational Value
a lot
Viewers can learn quite a lot about these creatures and see unique, close-up footage of them in their natural environment, as well as gain insight into how human behavior impacts wild animals.
Positive Messages
some
Not preserving the natural habitats of creatures can lead to a decreased population of these creatures. Young orangutans need older role models, parents, and others to learn how to live and thrive in their environment.
Positive Role Models
some
Mother orangutans take great care of their little ones, though the young must become independent at some point, especially when new babies are born. Adult apes model behavior for younger apes, and the film demonstrates how they use their brains and extensive memories to problem-solve. The images and information in the film are available thanks to researchers who dedicate their time and energy to studying them.
Diverse Representations
very little
Orangutans share 30 physical characteristics with humans and are one of our closest relatives. The creatures demonstrate gender differences in their behaviors. They live in the wild in a limited natural reserve in Sumatra.
Parents need to know that the Richard Attenborough-narrated nature documentary Secret Lives of Orangutans contains close-up images of these creatures in their shrinking natural environment as they hunt, fight, breed, and grow up. Orangutans show their dominance through fights and intimidating displays of power to maintain dominance, attract the opposite sex, and establish territories. One male has a face wound and severed thumb from a fight. Orangutans hunt and feed off other forest creatures and avoid creatures that may hurt them, like wasps. Males make calls and establish dominance to be chosen by breeding females. Older males befriend younger females to have a better shot at being chosen as a mate when the females are old enough to breed. A male seems to be having trouble "getting in the mood" to breed, so a female pokes him in a "delicate area" and then puts her rear end in his face. Young orangutans must learn to survive and be increasingly self-sufficient. The creatures' natural habitat is declining in size at a rapid rate due to human encroachment. The narrator uses the word "hell" once. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
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What's the Story?
SECRET LIVES OF ORANGUTANS follows a group of orangutans in the Sumatra forests where they live in the treetops. Their habitat has shrunk in recent years, but thanks to small drones, researchers at the Orangutan Research Project have been able to get up close and watch their interactions. We, too, get to see them as they go about their days and lives, including one newborn we see start to grow up and become independent. Richard Attenborough provides the narration that fills us in on what we're watching.
Nature documentaries like this one are appealing thanks to their unique insights and images, as well as a relatable personification of the creatures on display. In the case of Secret Lives of Orangutans, these are complemented by upbeat pacing, an orchestral score, and the dulcet tones of Richard Attenborough. The film combines close-up drone footage in the forest canopy with vast and gorgeous landscape shots. Watching the apes over time as they grow up and their lives change is enlightening, making it that much more impactful at the end when Attenborough reminds us of the ways our own actions as humans are impacting these majestic creatures.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the main characteristics they've learned about orangutans thanks to Secret Lives of Orangutans. What's your favorite fact?
Where do these creatures live, and why isn't their habitat larger? What can be done to preserve their environment and the future of their species?
How are orangutans similar to humans? Where can you go for more information about them?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
