About: Buddy (film)

Buddy is a 1997 film directed by Caroline Thompson. It starred Rene Russo as Mrs. Gertrude 'Trudy' Lintz and Robbie Coltrane as her husband. The film was based on the life of a gorilla called Massa with elements of Gertrude Lintz's other gorilla Gargantua (who was called "Buddy" at the time). In real life, Massa became the oldest Gorilla on record while Buddy/Gargantua died young as a circus attraction and is now on display in a museum.