The Zookeeper's Wife (2017)

Keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, Antonina and Jan Zabinski, must save hundreds of people and animals during the Nazi invasion in WWII Poland.

Director:

Niki Caro

Writers:

Angela Workman (screenplay), Diane Ackerman (based on the book by)

Stars:

Jessica Chastain, Johan Heldenbergh, Daniel Brühl

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jessica Chastain	...	Antonina Zabinska
Johan Heldenbergh	...	Jan Zabinski
Daniel Brühl	...	Lutz Heck
Timothy Radford	...	Ryszard Zabinski (Younger)
Efrat Dor	...	Magda Gross
Iddo Goldberg	...	Maurycy Fraenkel
Shira Haas	...	Urszula
Michael McElhatton	...	Jerzyk
Val Maloku	...	Ryszard Zabinski (Older)
Martha Issová	...	Regina Kenigswein
Daniel Ratimorský	...	Samuel Kenigswein
Frederick Preston	...	Miecio Kenigswein
Theo Preston	...	Stefcio Kenigswein (as Theodore Preston)
Viktoria Zakharyanova	...	Stefania Keningswein (as Viktoria Zakharyanová)
Goran Kostic	...	Mr. Kinszerbaum

Storyline

War brews over Warsaw in 1939, and while life is still running its course, the Germans are slowly beginning to make their presence felt, with Hitler secretly preparing for the German invasion of Poland. Under those circumstances, the young couple of Jan and Antonina Zabinski continue their daily routine as owners and keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, but soon, as German Luftwaffe's Stukas hammer the Polish capital, their life's work together with the city, will turn to ashes. However, with the zoo liquidated for the war effort and many of its animals tragically perished, what was once an animals' zoo, will now serve as a sanctuary where Antonina, the humanist veterinarian, and Jan can hide the persecuted Polish Jews in plain sight until safe houses are found. That was Jan and Antonina's formidable, yet perilous plan, who regardless of the consequences, refused to wither before the Nazi menace, took matters into their own hands and sheltered 300 Jews under the Germans' noses.

---

Plot Keywords:

zoo | polish german relations | shooting an animal | hiding place | strong female protagonist | 

---

Taglines:

In a nation gripped by fear one woman finds the power to resist

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, disturbing images, violence, brief sexuality, nudity and smoking

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the pieces Jessica Chastain's character plays on the piano to let the refugees know it's safe to come upstairs is 'The Swan' from 'Carnival of the Animals' by Camille Saint-Saën.

---

Goofs

At 39 min when the pigs are arriving at the zoo, behind the actors you can clearly see a truck made in the 2000's.

---

Quotes

Jan Zabinski: I was raised with these people. Gentile, Jewish. It didn't matter to my family. It never mattered to me.

---

Connections

Referenced in Za scénou: Martha Issová (2018)

---

Soundtracks

Piano Sonata No. 1, 2nd Movement, Op. 2
Written by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Jessica Chastain

User Reviews

Another holocaust movie......

Of COURSE we should remember the holocaust and do everything we should to educate and impress on future generations what they must avoid. But this film is nowhere as near the quality or impact of Schindler's List or The Pianist.

So from what I've been able to read - the film is a fair summary of a true story. Warsaw Zoo bombed at the start of WWII, zoo converted to a pig farm, zoo director and his wife hide Jews who have escaped from the Warsaw Ghetto, war ends and (spoiler - so I won't go there).

Production values seem authentic. Story is sound. Doesn't jump off the screen and grab you by the throat. Still - worth a watch.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site Official Site [Austria]

Country:

Czech Republic UK USA

Language:

English German Hebrew

Release Date:

7 April 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Zookeeper's Wife

Filming Locations:

Prague, Czech Republic

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,288,835, 2 April 2017

Gross USA:

$17,571,660

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$26,152,835

Company Credits

Production Co:

Scion Films, Czech Anglo Productions, LD Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1