Rise of the Planet of the Apes

To what extent does film capture the true nature of science? Sometimes it mirrors reality with striking precision, while other times it takes bold imaginative leaps. This dynamic tension between realism and imagination not only shapes public perceptions of science, but also inspires critical conversations about ethics, technological innovation, and the broader impact of scientific progress. In celebration of the upcoming 225 years anniversary of the Royal Natural Sciences Society of Groningen, we are organizing a special film series for those with a passion for cinema and a love for science. Each screening will be introduced by a scientist who will place the film in context of real-world science.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Scientist Will is searching for a remedy for his father’s progressive dementia and discovers a promising treatment using modified viruses. The animal trials end in disaster except for one highly intelligent baby chimpanzee named Caesar, whom Will decides to raise and monitor. Seeing positive results, he uses the new drug to treat his own father as well. A few years later it all goes downhill; Will’s father is getting sicker and Caesar gets caught and tormented in an animal shelter. New forms of the miracle cure prove to have deadly consequences and as Caesar is looking for a way out, chaos ensues.

Introduction by neurobiologist Lynn van Olst

In this film, the desire to develop biomedical solutions intertwines with ethical questions about the limits of scientific intervention. How does Alzheimer’s researcher Lynn van Olst view this film? Van Olst studies why immune cells in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s function less effectively. This knowledge can contribute to the development of new treatments as well as the improvement of existing ones for Alzheimer’s disease.

This film has Dutch subtitles.

Organised with KNG.