The Zookeeper

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Michael S Although sad and not light comedy. It was very a engaging movie depicting what life may have been like during WW2 in Eastern block Europe. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/02/24 Full Review Audience Member It's the most powerful war movie that has ever been made. How's that for a review? The film took decades to be released (ling story that only a few on the inner circle know about) and that in and of itself was a tragedy, because it deserves much more attention and recognition than it has received. The acting is superb. It's a director's masterwork. The cinematography is Oscar-worthy. Watch and you'll give it five stars too. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Ken R The Zookeeper – Rarely Seen Independent Drama Screenplay writer Matthew Bishop and co-writer/director Ralph Ziman's independently produced ‘The Zookeeper' is unfairly, mostly unknown. It features above-average production values and an unusual but interesting performance by Sam Neil. Neil plays an ex-communist party member who has denounced the party and hidden himself away as an attendant in an unspecified Eastern European Zoo. Filmed on location in the Czech Republic, it tells a story that will have all too often unfolded within many war-torn European communities - where communist troops arrive and exert their control. The emotionally challenged Zookeeper tends his animal charges alone - while attempting to remain neutral of the war raging around his unique boundaries. This won't be easy as there are others also wanting to escape the outside trauma – these come in the form of a young boy and one of his parents. The internationally sourced budget includes many well-executed scenes involving explosions and it's all expertly captured on film by prize-winning Polish cinematographer Piotr Kuklar. There's also an effective music score by Nikolaj Egelund, supplying a haunting soundscape within the eerie shut-down zoological grounds. Popular American wildlife trainer Steve Martin (Water For Elephants '11) acted as head trainer for all the zoo animals. Acclaimed Indian actor Om Puri (Ghost and the Darkness) also appears as the veterinarian. The Beyond DVD offers good image and sound - this is a film deserving of better public recognition. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/11/21 Full Review Audience Member Um homem dedica sua vida aos animais em vez de lidar com as incertezas políticas e emocionais. Ludovic (Sam Neill) vive e trabalha em uma cidade não identificada nos Balcãs, dedica suas energias a seu trabalho como zelador. Após bombardeios repetidos que ameaçam perigosamente o santuário animal, Ludovic se recusa a sair, e com a ajuda de um veterinário (Om Puri), ele atende às necessidades dos animais. Ludovic, porém, descobre que não há como escapar do caos ao seu redor, e como as tropas comandadas por Dragov (Ulrich Thomsen) vão ao jardim zoológico e levam o veterinário afastado em nome da "limpeza étnica", ele dá refúgio a Ankica (Gina McKee) e Zioig (Javor Loznica), uma mãe e seu filho que escaparam da execução em uma aldeia próxima. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Thought this was The Zookeepers Wife which was a WWII Polish Movie but this one is a Balkans war movie about dedication, war, family, love and sacrifice. A good movie, not a must see but with it's moments heart wrenching more than happy. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member This great concept is poorly executed. Lacking character development & authenticity & empathy namely as result of Sam Neill's poor acting. Also the fact that everyone speaks English with bad European accents breaks any illusion. The story feels distant & slow, it seems grandiose in ambition ultimately falling short. The opening sequence is poorly shot with an annoying reverberating shot technique. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Zookeeper

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