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The Zookeeper's Wife

Play trailer 2:21 Poster for The Zookeeper's Wife PG-13 Released Mar 31, 2017 2h 5m History Drama Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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64% Tomatometer 180 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
The time is 1939 and the place is Poland, homeland of Antonina Zabinski and her husband, Dr. Jan Zabinski. The Warsaw Zoo flourishes under Jan's stewardship and Antonina's care. When their country is invaded by the Nazis, Jan and Antonina are forced to report to the Reich's newly appointed chief zoologist, Lutz Heck. The Zabinskis covertly begin working with the Resistance and put into action plans to save the lives of hundreds from what has become the Warsaw Ghetto.
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Critics Consensus

The Zookeeper's Wife has noble intentions, but is ultimately unable to bring its fact-based story to life with quite as much impact as it deserves.

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Critics Reviews

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Valerie Complex Affinity Magazine The film could have been an excellent introduction to a relatively unknown historical figure, but it doesn't eloquently capture the essence of their real life struggle. Rated: 2/5 Jun 10, 2017 Full Review Jake Wilson The Age (Australia) Questions persist about the tone and approach. Rated: 2/5 May 10, 2017 Full Review David Stratton The Australian Caro creates some impressive scenes, some involving the fates of the animals, one involving a mother and daughter who think they've escaped. But on the whole the film never quite manages to create the required mood. Rated: 3/5 May 5, 2017 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies “The Zookeeper’s Wife” may not satisfy those looking for a more visceral experience, but not every Holocaust story requires that approach. Many of these stories weren’t as pronounced, yet they were just as powerful and inspirational. This is such a story. Rated: 4/5 Aug 20, 2022 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The Zookeeper's Wife is an accomplished picture, offering a fascinating history lesson even as it remains wholly topical. Rated: 3/4 Aug 17, 2021 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Dr. Jan Żabiński and Antonina Żabińska were named to the Righteous Among the Nations and The Zookeeper's Wife shows why. Jul 18, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Martin B Why the zookeepers wife because it was Chastain? The husband took the greater risks. If you're a parent your first duty to your children is to keep them safe. The recklessness that this couple exposed their children to as written was hard to watch. The war ending, Chastain's character who has endured incredible deprivation and humiliation decides that she can't take any more and says "you disgust me" putting everything she had sacrificed fir at risk. But none of the family died even after they all were thrown to the winds. It was poetic license run amok for the sake of having a script have a proper beginning, middle and ending. Somehow when it's history it's doesn't seem proper to bastardize events like that simply to make a movie. That sort of story should have been left to the documentarian's. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/23/23 Full Review Megan e this movie is incredibly powerful! And Chastain's performance is wonderful! Good adaptation too! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/16/23 Full Review Thomas S Very hard going at times Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/18/23 Full Review Justin V the story behind must be amazing, but the horror or the situation is nowhere to be seen. still moving and watchable. the scenes are too clean and romanticized to do justice to the realities faced. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Had the potential to be so much better but Hollywood as usual ruined it. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The zoo keepers wife is a dramatic, tearjeaking, heart warming movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Zookeeper's Wife

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Movie Info

Synopsis The time is 1939 and the place is Poland, homeland of Antonina Zabinski and her husband, Dr. Jan Zabinski. The Warsaw Zoo flourishes under Jan's stewardship and Antonina's care. When their country is invaded by the Nazis, Jan and Antonina are forced to report to the Reich's newly appointed chief zoologist, Lutz Heck. The Zabinskis covertly begin working with the Resistance and put into action plans to save the lives of hundreds from what has become the Warsaw Ghetto.
Director
Niki Caro
Producer
Jeff Abberley, Jamie Patricof, Diane Miller Levin, Kim Zubick
Screenwriter
Angela Workman
Distributor
Focus Features
Production Co
Scion Films, Electric City Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Disturbing Images|Brief Sexuality|Violence|Nudity|Smoking|Thematic Elements)
Genre
History, Drama, Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 31, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 20, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$17.4M
Runtime
2h 5m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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