A few years back, I had the privilege of interviewing Jane Goodall. It was her birthday and she was celebrating it in Pasadena–really Arcadia at the Arboretum. The Pasadena Star News had passed on an interview and so I was able to speak to Goodall over the phone for the Pasadena Weekly. It was one of the highlights of my life as a writer and journalist. Of course, I feel that everyone should see the 2010 documentary “Jane’s Journey.”

When you consider how much Goodall has given up you can’t help but be inspired. Once upon a time, she was a young girl, without an education. What she did have was determination and that led her to become a pioneer in the study of wild chimpanzees.

At 77, Goodall devotes her time to saving our planet and this documentary, “Jane’s Journey,” gives us an intimate portrait of this woman and her impact on the world. Director/writer Lorenz Knauer uses old footage from her private life in England and research with the chimpanzees interwoven with conversations with Goodall, her colleagues, some Hollywood celebrities, and her son and ex-husband. The documentary is not particularly critical and is a tad overlong, but that all is easy for forgive when you consider Goodall spends about 300 days a year giving lectures, writing books and working with the Jane Goodall Institute to create a better world for humans and animals.

Unfortunately, this documentary will not come to Pasadena and is only showing in Santa Monica locally. On 27 September 2011, there will be one theater participating in the Jane Goodall Live event:

Alhambra Renaissance 14
1 E MAIN ST
ALHAMBRA, CA 91801
626-300-8312

Los Angeles, CA	Laemmle Monica 4	September 23 – 29, 2011
Nationwide	Jane Goodall Live	September 27, 2011
Seattle, WA	Northwest Film Forum	October 7 – 13, 2011
Cleveland, OH	Cleveland Cinematheque	October 20 – 23, 2011
Miami, FL	O Cinema	October 20 – 23, 2011
Boulder, CO	International Film Series	October 21, 2011
San Francisco, CA	Berlin and Beyond Film Festival	October 25, 2011
Rehoboth Beach, DE	Rehoboth Beach Film Festival	November 9 -13, 2011
St. Louis, MO	St. Louis Film Festival	November 15, 2011