Checkpoint Zoo

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Checkpoint Zoo

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1h 47m

Documentary

Nature

War

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14 Reviews

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In the early days of the Russian-Ukrainian war Kharkiv, the country's second largest city, was turned into a warzone. On one side of the battlefield was the invading Russian army, on the other side, the defending Ukrainians, and caught in between them, was a zoo called Feldman Ecopark. More than just a zoo, Feldman Ecopark was an animal sanctuary that offered countless therapy programs to everyone from soldiers with PTSD to children with special needs. As the war ravaged on, and the shelling increased, it was clear that the bravery of the staff wouldn't be enough to save the animals trapped inside. With the help of four young volunteers, these zookeepers would undertake a seemingly impossible mission -- they would risk life and limb to evacuate over 5,000 animals, including scores of dangerous predators, and deliver them to safety. Drawing from first-hand footage, Award-winning filmmaker Joshua Zeman's Checkpoint Zoo showcases a story of human compassion, bravery, and sacrifice during Ukraine's darkest hours. shining a light on the best of humanity when it is all too easy to focus on the worst.

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Nicolas Rapold

New York Times

Checkpoint Zoo portrays a caged and dependent menagerie that bewilderingly experienced humans at their worst and, fortunately, their best.

Aug 15, 2025

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

Variety

A prolific producer whose prior directorial projects were largely in a true-crime vein, Zeman brings considerable polish as well as suspense to this exercise in more urgent, you-are-there documentary narrative.

Jan 8, 2025

Full Review

Megan McLachlan

The Contending

Not only are these people dodging gunfire, but they’re also carefully maneuvering a 400-lb tranquilized killer on a tarp — and if that animal wakes up, they won’t even be thinking about the gunfire anymore. Checkpoint Zoo is truly a high-wire act.

Aug 15, 2025

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Al Alexander

Movies Thru the Spectrum

Co-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, the film is an emotional roller-coaster as thrilling and nail-biting as anything you’ll see in a “Mission: Impossible” flick.

Rated: A-

Aug 14, 2025

Full Review

Matt Mahler

PopMatters

Checkpoint Zoo is littered with miniature marvels of heroism. While not without tragedy, the film highlights that elusive epithet which Hollywood believes belongs best in war films – “the human spirit” – in a movingly unalloyed way.

Aug 14, 2025

Full Review

Jeanne Kaplan

Kaplan vs. Kaplan

Riveting, edge-of-your-seat drama are not typical words used to describe documentaries, but CHECKPOINT ZOO is not your average documentary.

Aug 14, 2025

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zachary m

This was an amazing documentary.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

Full Review

Donald

The move is a total success and a brilliant documentary. It rallies public support for Ukranians and the saving of wild animals. I strongly recommend it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

Full Review

Cynthia

This movie is a must see. It is riveting, emotional, thought, provoking, so searching, essential for understanding, life, and community and animals, both human and non-human.. I am writing this review after having just seen it. Its going to take some time for me to wrap my head around it and get words right. It is a must say.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

Full Review

Anthony A

the animals and the humans in this story take your heart. Beautifully made story

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

Full Review

bin-15

Best doc I have ever seen. Academy Award winner. Not a bunch of talking heads, Actual people actually doing something courageous and beautiful in a backdrop of absolute insanity.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/16/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Real footage in 1 hour and 47 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/16/25

Full Review

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Joshua Zeman

Director

Joshua Zeman

Writer

Zachary Mortensen

Producer

Joshua Zeman

Producer

Ian Davies

Producer

Torquil Jones

Producer

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Synopsis

In the early days of the Russian-Ukrainian war Kharkiv, the country's second largest city, was turned into a warzone. On one side of the battlefield was the invading Russian army, on the other side, the defending Ukrainians, and caught in between them, was a zoo called Feldman Ecopark. More than just a zoo, Feldman Ecopark was an animal sanctuary that offered countless therapy programs to everyone from soldiers with PTSD to children with special needs. As the war ravaged on, and the shelling increased, it was clear that the bravery of the staff wouldn't be enough to save the animals trapped inside. With the help of four young volunteers, these zookeepers would undertake a seemingly impossible mission -- they would risk life and limb to evacuate over 5,000 animals, including scores of dangerous predators, and deliver them to safety. Drawing from first-hand footage, Award-winning filmmaker Joshua Zeman's Checkpoint Zoo showcases a story of human compassion, bravery, and sacrifice during Ukraine's darkest hours. shining a light on the best of humanity when it is all too easy to focus on the worst.

Director: Joshua Zeman
Producer: Zachary Mortensen, Joshua Zeman, Ian Davies, Torquil Jones
Screenwriter: Joshua Zeman
Distributor: Abramorama
Production Co: Ghost Robot
Genre: Documentary, Nature, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 15, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 47m