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

As war brews over in 1939 Warsaw, and while life is still running its course, the Germans are gradually making their presence felt, with Adolf Hitler secretly preparing for the invasion of Poland. Under those volatile circumstances, the couple of Jan Zabinski and Antonina Zabinska continue with their daily routine as owners of the Warsaw Zoo; however, their life's work, and the city, will turn to ashes when the Luftwaffe's horrific Stukas begin to hammer the capital. Now, with the zoo liquidated for the war effort, and many of its animals tragically perished, what was once a menagerie, will now serve as a sanctuary, where the pair of veterinarians can hide the persecuted Polish-Jewish people in plain sight. Indeed, that was the dangerous plan of the two altruists, who, regardless of the consequences, refused to wither before the Nazi menace, and sheltered three hundred Jewish men, women, and children right under the noses of the enemy. Will the world remember the zookeeper's wife?

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

They gave all they had to save all they could

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the third film in which Jessica performs a character playing the piano. The first was The Debt (2010) directed by John Madden and the second was Crimson Peak (2015) directed by Guillermo del Toro. In Mama (2013), however, she had to be taught how to play the guitar for the needs of the horror film.

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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.

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Quotes

Antonina Zabinski: People always want to run when they don't know what's coming. It's their first instinct, always to run.

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Connections

Referenced in Sama doma: Episode dated 18 April 2017 (2017)

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Soundtracks

Passe Lointain Op. 72 #17
Written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
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:

2.39 : 1