La casa de la esperanza

Firstly, I'm quite shocked by the negative reviews. This film stands up next to classics, in particular Schindler's List, to depict the horror of the Jewish suffering and violation in Eastern Europe in WW2. It is not so graphic but shows the lengths non-Jewish people went to, to save their fellow human beings. Intensely poignant and heartbreaking at times. Yes it's not all about zoo animals but that's not really the point. A tale worth telling, and very well told.

Another saturated topic, we typically get two or three WWII films a year. Frustratingly, this is another typical holocaust film and one that will not standout against the packed crowd. In saying that though, this is an excellent "story" film to which I was fully immersed. A factual fictionalisation of the Warsaw Zoo surviving WWII where both animals and humans are in danger. The owners soon start to hide Jewish residents within the zoo in an attempt to save their lives from the Nazi holocaust. I expected a film about zookeepers and nearby residents saving animals from Nazi capture, boy was I completely wrong. The zoo animals only take precedent during the first fifteen minutes, and then the narrative's focus is purely on the owners, Jews and the Nazi regime. Soul draining is how I would describe this. It's bleak, depressing and not an ounce of happiness until the last five minutes. Director Niki Caro captures the horror of the holocaust and does not shy away from the brutality of it. She evokes powerful imagery that isn't portrayed in the film, we see a young girl being taken into a tunnel by two Nazi soldiers. We don't see what happens, but the detail in every scene enables us to imagine the terror that unfolded. Another synonymous scene would be when Jewish children are carried onto a train. We know where it's going, but the story never informs us. It's subliminal, and that might be due to the over saturation of this genre. Jessica Chastain stars as the eponymous character in what is one of her more nuanced performances, but emotionally vulnerable. When she cries, my God I feel it. Daniel Brühl was also captivating as the Nazi zoologist. Would I have liked the focus to be strictly on the zoo animals? Yes. It would've been different, less generic and perhaps more emotive. Can I complain about what was presented instead? No. A perfectly good WWII drama that is harrowingly depressing which will not set the cinematic world alight.

Greetings from Lithuania.

"Zookepers Wife" (2017) is not a great movie about WW2 ir Holocaust, or even a great movie at all. But it is efficient and well made enough that I could mildly recommend it. Based on true events it tells a story worth to tell, maybe even more worth a better movie. But on the other hand not all movie can be "Schindler's List" or "Pianist" and come even close - this is one is not in the same league or comes even close. At running time 1 h 55 min it does drag here and there, some dialogs were predictable and too melodramatic. But still what it does it does well enough to check this one once if you are in a mood for descent WW2 survival story.

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.

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.