Zoo - Un amico da salvare

It's 1941 Belfast. Tom Hall is excited about the arrival of baby elephant Buster to the zoo. His father is its veterinarian and is sent off to war. After a night of bombing, officials order the killing of the zoo's predators fearing an escape of the dangerous animals. Tom is horrified and he learns that Buster could be next if the bombings continue. Tom decides to liberate Buster with the help of troubled classmate Jane Berry. They recruit big kid Pete. On the night of the rescue, Pete brings along his dwarf brother Mickey. The group is discovered by Security Guard Charlie (Toby Jones) but he allows them to escape. They are forced to hide Buster in the backyard of reclusive animal lady Denise Austin.

This is a sweet story for kids and for kids at heart. This is one for the animal lovers. If it's missing anything, it's missing a more threatening villain. The bully kid could have more time on screen. He could have intensified the tension. As it stands, the tension isn't that high. The kids are sweet. The relationship is heart-breaking. At least, that's a fictionalization of the true story.

Sweet and gentle viewing. Strong cast, even the young actors.

This is an enjoyable family adventure which always seems to have the threat of war in the background. All the leading actors do a good job and even the one bully has a softer side, while the other bully remains just that. We even get to laugh every now and then.

Penelope Wilton makes a remarkable transformation from what seems like an evil witch to a kind and caring person.

Emily Flain is kind but tough as a possible romantic interest who is mainly just a good and helpful friend.

Toby Jones stands out as an obnoxious security guard at the zoo, but even he has a kind side he just won't let show.

James Stockdale is a little person with an attitude, who lets people know he's just has capable as anyone else. His role is ... short, but he makes us notice him.

I don't know why a family film like this would get a TV-14 V-chip rating. I do know some words didn't make it to broadcast TV, but there isn't really anything here to justify such a stern warning. Little kids probably shouldn't see some scenes because this is war, people are frightened, and there is damage. Not everyone survives to the end, but no one is shown dying. People grieve, but life goes on. And of course not all animals survive because certain people are overly cautious with the threat of bombing, but again, you don't see what happens.

In the U. S., we don't have prayer in the public schools but we might have back then. It's not clear whether the kids attend a Catholic school but the teacher does pray. Pauline Hutton, I believe it is, does such a good job in that scene.

There is nice scenery, mainly at the zoo, but we don't really get to see just how beautiful Northern Ireland is. Other scenes show a working class neighborhood which is not really attractive, but that's just how it is.

It's a fine effort.

Poignant drama as a group of youths aided by an animal loving neighbor, are willing to go to any lengths to save a baby elephant during the Belfast Blitz , in 1941.

However, the film is not all touchy-feely , as there are some sad and tense scenes as well.The characters are certainly believable, and it's all tied together and presented well by the writer and director Colin McIvor.

All in all, I found this movie to be an engaging and uplifting tale.

A beautiful family drama,about a little zoo in a little village just outside belfast,nortern ireland.its an emotional story about an elephant and his human rescuers and friends during the devastating time of 2nd world war blitz-krieg phase.

it is a sweet but also sad story about love,engagement,poverty,life and death,good and evil ,made through a great filmographic,audio/visual production,and a whole lot of great young actors.even though i understand english language pretty well,the irish slang are at time hopeless to understand when spoken with low voice,anyway,the worse the dialect the better.geordie is fein..... the pace are a little slow but it gives time for recollection on wartime for the younger viewers.