Who says that the more intelligent animals should not be treated as (sort of) persons under the law? Not U.S. animal rights lawyer Steven Wise, who with several dedicated colleagues spends a lot of time filing lawsuits on behalf of locked-up chimps and elephants, etc. for habeas corpus — in essence, limited freedom from captivity. This documentary (by Chris Hegedus and D. A. Pennebaker, of War Room, Don’t Look Back and many other docs, fame) moves with the lawyers from animal habitats to the inside of courtrooms in this interesting and precedent-making legal journey. It kept my interest throughout.
