Zookeeper's Wife, The
(2017) - 124 min - PG13
True story of Antonina and Jan Zabinski who owned and ran the zoo in Warsaw and ultimately saved over 200 lives during the Nazi occupation of Poland. Click below to buy the book and stream or buy the movie when it is also available
Actors
Jessica Chastain, Johan Hildenbergh, Daniel BrühlGenre
Drama, History, War- Cute Animals
Chief Chick Comments
Wonderful movie depicting the story of the Warsaw Zoo, its owners(Jan and Antonina Zabinski) and their heroic efforts to save over 300 Jews including their best friends from the Warsaw ghetto and ultimate annihilation in the concentration camps during World War II. Antonina has a gentle way which almost mesmerizes the animals in this zoo. Early one, we see her playing midwife as she tries to save a newborn elephant. A young camel follows her around the zoo as she makes rounds on her bicycle. And her young son is sleeping with lions cubs. They are acquainted with the head of the Berlin Zoo who is a friend before the war but changes after he joins the Nazis during the war and becomes a nemesis to the Zabinskis. Chastain is fast becomes my new favorite actress although I still admire Cate Blanchett very much. The set for the zoo is amazing and looks like the zoos of my childhood although perhaps much kinder to their habitats. Johan Hildenbergh whom I have not seen before seems perfectly cast as her strong yet kind husband, Jan. When he sees a young girl in the ghetto being led away to be raped by the guards, he does something unexpected even though he own young son is in the truck. Daniel Brühl who will look familiar to you looks friendly but ultimately is not. All in all, a moving depiction of this time, the Zabinski's efforts, and everything considered a reasonable ending to the tale.
Flock Comments
Zoo Keeper is based on a true story, taking place in Warsaw, Poland during WWII! It is a heartbreaking story of the devastation, cruel and inhumane treatment and murders of the Jewish race as well as revealing the nature of the human beings who could perform such atrocities. I cried throughout the movie.
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I read the book a few years ago and had the chance to tour the house the Zabinskis lived in (still on the zoo grounds of the Warsaw City Zoo). I found the movie a bit heavy on the pulling of heartstrings, but overall it remained true to the book and presented this courage couple in a dignified manner. Recommend both the book and the movie.