IMDb RATING
7.0/10
49K
YOUR RATING
Keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, Antonina and Jan Zabinski, must save hundreds of people and animals during the Nazi invasion in WWII Poland.Keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, Antonina and Jan Zabinski, must save hundreds of people and animals during the Nazi invasion in WWII Poland.Keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, Antonina and Jan Zabinski, must save hundreds of people and animals during the Nazi invasion in WWII Poland.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 2 wins & 4 nominations total
Theo Preston
- Stefcio Kenigswein
- (as Theodore Preston)
Viktoria Zakharyanova
- Stefania Keningswein
- (as Viktoria Zakharyanová)
Marian Mitas
- Stefan
- (as Marián Mitas)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
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.
The 2017 The Zookeeper's Wife is the best film to watch in all times I have seen it in theaters when it came out 5 years ago I seen it with my dad and my step mom. We really enjoyed the movie that it brought tears to our eyes. I would like to give I shout out to the cast and crew that did very hard work to this film. The dedication it took. I really recommend on watching it if you have it seen it before or if you have seen it I recommend on watching it again it is the best movie ever. The actors/actresses. Did I fantastic job.
The movie is set the 2 world war. This war drama was very good to watch.
The movie is set the 2 world war. This war drama was very good to watch.
I enjoyed The Zookeeper's Wife and would recommend it to most audiences. Skillful direction by Niki Caro, excellent sets and costumes, a slightly washed-out look to the cinematography which nonetheless has a full range of color, and a capable cast. The story is based on the actions of the owners of the Warsaw Zoo, who saved the lives of more than three hundred Jews during the Nazi occupation of Poland.
Nonetheless, the performance of Jessica Chastain is the single most important factor in the film. Unlike many American actors, she understands that a Polish woman of the 1940s does not look, move, or carry her features like a contemporary American. So fully does Miss Chastain inhabit her character that I never had the sense of an actress making choices.
The film is a bit long and a bit slow, like most films today, but not to a damaging extent. I particularly admired the way that the official from the Berlin Zoo who becomes a Nazi officer, well played by Daniel Bruhl, has certain scruples and personal moral standards although he embraces the Nazi philosophy. He's a villain, but not a cardboard villain, and part of the suspense of the film is waiting to see which lines he will cross and which he won't.
Nonetheless, the performance of Jessica Chastain is the single most important factor in the film. Unlike many American actors, she understands that a Polish woman of the 1940s does not look, move, or carry her features like a contemporary American. So fully does Miss Chastain inhabit her character that I never had the sense of an actress making choices.
The film is a bit long and a bit slow, like most films today, but not to a damaging extent. I particularly admired the way that the official from the Berlin Zoo who becomes a Nazi officer, well played by Daniel Bruhl, has certain scruples and personal moral standards although he embraces the Nazi philosophy. He's a villain, but not a cardboard villain, and part of the suspense of the film is waiting to see which lines he will cross and which he won't.
This is my absolute favorite historical movie and rewatching it is something I will never get tired of. This movie never fails to make me ball my eyes out. The story is based on a couple who owned the Warsaw zoo and how they managed to save the lives of hundreds of Jews during the Nazi invasion in Poland. Jessica Chastain is such a profound actress who elevates this remarkable story in a way only she could. The duality of the couple saving not only the jewish people, but their animals was one that makes this movie stand out to me more than any WW2 film. Bring lots of tissues and be warned of the emotional damage you will feel after.
A film with promising actors and based upon an incredible true story, however didn't fill up to its high expectations, sadly.
Something that always troubles me, is feeling the need to speak English with an accent to show that they're actually speaking another language. It's in fact ridiculous, knowing that Johan Heldenbergh is pure Belgian (and actually speaks English with a Flemish/Ghent accent) and Jessica Chastain is pure American (her English/polish accent is just ridiculous). Either you just speak plain English or you make the movie with Polish actors. Besides that, Johan Heldenbergh, the zookeeper, (world-renown in Belgium but his first introduction in a bigger US production), was impeccable & perfectly casted.
The film didn't blow me away and was predictable from beginning till the end. Fairly enjoyable for a regular weeknight if you have nothing to do, but will most certainly be forgotten the next day - not anywhere near classic holocaust movies like Schindler's list or The Pianist. Too bad, cause everything was there (especially book & script) to make a much stronger impact.
Something that always troubles me, is feeling the need to speak English with an accent to show that they're actually speaking another language. It's in fact ridiculous, knowing that Johan Heldenbergh is pure Belgian (and actually speaks English with a Flemish/Ghent accent) and Jessica Chastain is pure American (her English/polish accent is just ridiculous). Either you just speak plain English or you make the movie with Polish actors. Besides that, Johan Heldenbergh, the zookeeper, (world-renown in Belgium but his first introduction in a bigger US production), was impeccable & perfectly casted.
The film didn't blow me away and was predictable from beginning till the end. Fairly enjoyable for a regular weeknight if you have nothing to do, but will most certainly be forgotten the next day - not anywhere near classic holocaust movies like Schindler's list or The Pianist. Too bad, cause everything was there (especially book & script) to make a much stronger impact.
Jessica Chastain Through the Years
Jessica Chastain Through the Years
Take a look back at Jessica Chastain's movie career in photos.
Did you know
- TriviaAll the animals you see are real, there is no CGI use.
- GoofsWhen the children are singing the Four Questions, they are using the modern Safardic pronunciation and tune rather than the Ashkenazi, used in eastern Europe.
- Quotes
Antonina Zabinski: You can never tell who your enemies are, or who to trust. Maybe that's why I love animals so much. You look in their eyes, and you know exactly what's in their hearts. They're not like people.
- SoundtracksContinental Bounce
Written by Hans Zander
Courtesy of APM Music
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- The Zookeeper's Wife
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $20,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $17,571,660
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,288,835
- Apr 2, 2017
- Gross worldwide
- $26,152,835
- Runtime
- 2h 7m(127 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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