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Gigi & Nate
By Tara McNamara,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Disability-focused story is more drama than monkey business.
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Gigi & Nate
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What's the Story?
GIGI & NATE centers on Nate (Charlie Rowe), a young man with quadriplegia who finds help, hope, and happiness when he obtains a trained rescue capuchin monkey as a service animal. But an animal rights group sees his situation differently and threatens to separate them.
Is It Any Good?
Director Nick Hamm's heartfelt but uneven drama aims to help audiences understand what it's like when your life abruptly turns upside down. It's no coincidence that the movie's action starts on the Fourth of July holiday, which celebrates independence. When Nate loses the use of his limbs, he loses his freedom as he's known it. He's no longer able to do what he wants, when he wants to, in even the smallest of ways.
Once Nate connects with Gigi, who's trained to assist him with his day-to-day needs, his outlook starts to shift. But the movie doesn't end there, since some animal protection groups see using a capuchin monkey in this way as a violation of animal rights. This kicks off a debate over the idea of keeping exotic animals in a private home, but it's unclear whether there's any activism left to take place on the topic. The film is loosely based on the book A Twig of Hope, the true story of a 22-year-old who was able to heal and progress through Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers, a now closed organization that trained and provided capuchins to help people with spinal cord injuries with their daily needs.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Nate's life before and after his paralysis. How did watching Gigi & Nate affect your perspective about living with a disability?
What other films have you seen that focus on characters with disabilities? How does the media tend to depict people who are disabled, and how does Nate compare? Why is positive representation important?
How does Nate demonstrate perseverance? How does his motivation to become more independent grow after he starts working with Gigi? Why does Gigi give him hope?
How does Nate's family use teamwork to care for him? What are examples in the film of compassion -- and the lack of it? Why are these important skills for life?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 2, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: November 15, 2022
- Cast: Charlie Rowe , Marcia Gay Harden , Jim Belushi
- Director: Nick Hamm
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Roadside Attractions
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Activism , Book Characters , Brothers and Sisters , Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Courage , Gratitude , Humility
- Run time: 114 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: some thematic material and language
- Last updated: January 19, 2023
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