Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

AniInterview Sorry, this movie sucks

Claysaba Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

oyunerdeneorkhonkhuu I will visit varshav zoo park.. i am gonna must do that

Maria D I just loved this film. The animals deepened my perspective on this horrific historical period. In many ways they symbolize mankind's inclination to impose cruelty and spread hate to the most innocent, the most loving beings. To see corruption imposed on the most undeserving made me reach a level of empathy and emotion I never even knew I had. The enormity of evil of the human race is depicted through these animals and their reaction to the bombs, their fear and inability to understand what is happening really shows how distorted and disturbing and disconnected war is from all living things and this movie really shows how in so many ways we are one of the weakest and most cowardly species on this planet.

The Movie Diorama Another saturated topic, we typically get two or three WWII films a year. Frustratingly, this is another typical holocaust film and one that will not standout against the packed crowd. In saying that though, this is an excellent "story" film to which I was fully immersed. A factual fictionalisation of the Warsaw Zoo surviving WWII where both animals and humans are in danger. The owners soon start to hide Jewish residents within the zoo in an attempt to save their lives from the Nazi holocaust. I expected a film about zookeepers and nearby residents saving animals from Nazi capture, boy was I completely wrong. The zoo animals only take precedent during the first fifteen minutes, and then the narrative's focus is purely on the owners, Jews and the Nazi regime. Soul draining is how I would describe this. It's bleak, depressing and not an ounce of happiness until the last five minutes. Director Niki Caro captures the horror of the holocaust and does not shy away from the brutality of it. She evokes powerful imagery that isn't portrayed in the film, we see a young girl being taken into a tunnel by two Nazi soldiers. We don't see what happens, but the detail in every scene enables us to imagine the terror that unfolded. Another synonymous scene would be when Jewish children are carried onto a train. We know where it's going, but the story never informs us. It's subliminal, and that might be due to the over saturation of this genre. Jessica Chastain stars as the eponymous character in what is one of her more nuanced performances, but emotionally vulnerable. When she cries, my God I feel it. Daniel Brühl was also captivating as the Nazi zoologist. Would I have liked the focus to be strictly on the zoo animals? Yes. It would've been different, less generic and perhaps more emotive. Can I complain about what was presented instead? No. A perfectly good WWII drama that is harrowingly depressing which will not set the cinematic world alight.

trimblair Outstanding effort by everyone involved. True story -- one of heroes we didn't know even existed. The acting from the leads and support cast and direction give life to a wonderful story. Should say Academy Award winner, Golden Globe award winner, People's Choice award winner. Oh well - Hollyweird politics.