The Zookeeper's Wife

Parental Rating: PG-13

Contains: Language    Nudity    Violence    Adult Content    

Jill's Review

Opens March 31, 2017

Runs 124 minutes

It is 1939 and Poland is on the brink of war. Antonina (Jessica Chastain) and Jan (Johan Heldenbergh) Zabinski manage the Warsaw Zoo. They plan to stay at the zoo to care for the animals, even as the war looms. When things get dire, the zoo is bombed and the animals are left to wander the city or be put to death by the Germans. An official from the German Zoo, Lutz Heck (Daniel Bruhl) makes them an offer they can't refuse - he offers to help round up and take their top specimens to Germany for safekeeping. The Zabinski's doubt they will ever get the animals back but it is better than sure death. The Zabinskis are heart-broken. But, soon they learn that the fate of the Jewish people is even more appalling. They devise a plan to raise pigs on their land for the Germans and are able to smuggle Jews out of the ghetto underneath piles of scraps and slop they are allowed to collect to feed the pigs. Throughout the four long years of war, they are able to save the lives of over 300 people, some who stayed days and some who stayed years, hidden in the zoo. Under constant threat of discovery, these brave people risked their lives to help save as many people as they could from certain death.

This is a true story and a fantastic movie. It is heart-wrenching and uplifting. It is also a war movie viewed from the perspective of a woman. Antonina must deal with men every day while keeping her secret. She must be strong and brave for her own son and for all of the Jews in her care. Additionally, it is sad to see the effect on the poor animals. This is something that hasn't been really addressed in a war movie before now. These poor animals were scared and wandering the city once the zoo was destroyed. I'm sure this happened in many cities during the war. War affects everyone, human and animal. This is tough to watch. The acting was great. The story was moving. What a great movie. I loved it! Go see it!

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