The Zookeeper’s Wife

Rated PG-13
126 Minutes
Starring: Jessica Chastain and Daniel Brϋhl

This is a  true story based on events that took place in 1939 in Poland at the Warsaw Zoo.  Antonia Zabinska, husband and son own the zoo and take care of all the animals.  Their life for them is idyllic until the Germans invade their country and take the zoo as their own to use for staging.  This movie is very emotional as we see the animals killed at the hands of the Nazi’s as well as the as the demise of the Jewish people in their town.  As the Zabinska families see their friends being rounded up and thrown into the ghetto – they decide to take a risk and save those that they can.  Using the animals cages in the basement of their house – they bring in the Jewish people and let them stay till they can sneak them out of the country.  Jessica Chastain does a superb job as she takes us into this woman’s world.  We see her struggle with the loss of her zoo, her community, her friends, but yet she still finds a way to save those she can – even at the risk of her own life.  Also, a great book!

Library Link: The Zookeeper's Wife (DVD)