The Zookeeper’s Wife Parent Guide

Zoologist Dr. Jan Zabinski (Johan Heldenbergh) and his animal-whisperer wife Antonina (Jessica Chastain) are the owners and keepers of the Warsaw, Poland Zoo. The pair are well respected in society, and their facility is an important part of the community. Yet all that changes after Hitler’s army invades their country, and the Nazis occupy their city.

First the zoo sustains major damages during a bombing raid, and then German soldiers take over the compound and use it as an armory. A lot of animals are killed (some are shot on screen and many bloody carcasses are shown). Those that survive are ordered to be liquidated and used for food and supplies. Desperate to save any she can, Antonina agrees to let Lutz Heck (Daniel Brühl), a former colleague and head of the Berlin zoo, take the best of their stock back to his institution. But Jan fears that the handsome Lutz Heck, who seems smitten by Antonina’s beauty, is merely eyeing up specimens he wants for his own collection.

As World War II continues, the Zabinski’s also watch as their Jewish neighbors are rounded up and sent to the Warsaw Ghetto. Even more desperate to save these endangered humans, the couple decides to use their zoo, which has underground tunnels and cages, to hide as many as they can. Despite the great risk to themselves and their young son (played first by Timothy Radford and later by Val Maloku), the Zabinskis become part of a network of determined rescuers.

Although based on a true story, this movie uses various fictional characters to depict the horrors of the Holocaust. These include a young girl (Shira Haas) who is presumably raped and shown bruised and bleeding, a woman (Efrat Dor) separated from her imprisoned husband (Iddo Goldberg) and a couple of escaped Jews who are found and shot (on screen). Other disturbing depictions include people who have frozen to death, are gunned down, or are burned by fire. Particularly heart wrenching are the ones who sacrifice themselves to protect the more vulnerable, such as small children.

Parents should also be aware that smoking and drinking are frequent in this period drama. Sexual content features some breast nudity (in a non-sexual context), passionate kissing and undressing (married and unmarried couples), and scenes where a woman uses her sex-appeal to manipulate a man. A pair of mating animals is also seen.

Some of the violent portrayals shown here feel like those typically found in stories from this time in history. Nevertheless, they do add a sense of the human suffering going on and emphasize the real message of the film: The power of the one to stand against the many. Jan and Antonina Zabinski were brave in the face of overwhelming evil. Even though their abilities to help seemed small, they still made a big difference in the lives of many individuals. The making of this movie gives their amazing courage another chance to inspire and influence the world.

About author

Donna Gustafson

Donna Gustafson has been involved with her husband Rod's work since the beginning. Handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, she also creates preview pages for up-coming movies, acts as managing editor and occasionally writes reviews.