The Zookeeper’s Wife is an upcoming 2017 British-American war drama film directed by Niki Caro and written by Angela Workman, based on the non-fiction book of same name by Diane Ackerman. The film stars Jessica Chastain, Johan Heldenbergh, Michael McElhatton, and Daniel Brühl. The real-life story of one working wife and mother who became a hero to hundreds during World War II. In 1939 Poland, Antonina Żabińska (portrayed by two-time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain) and her husband, Dr. Jan Żabiński (Johan Heldenbergh of “The Broken Circle Breakdown”).
They have the Warsaw Zoo flourishing under his stewardship and her care. When their country is invaded by the Nazis, Jan and Antonina are stunned – and forced to report to the Reich’s new chief zoologist. To fight back on their own terms, Antonina and Jan covertly begin working with the Resistance. They put into action plans to save lives out of what has become the Warsaw Ghetto, with Antonina putting herself and even her children at great risk.
They have the Warsaw Zoo flourishing under his stewardship and her care. When their country is invaded by the Nazis, Jan and Antonina are stunned – and forced to report to the Reich’s new chief zoologist. To fight back on their own terms, Antonina and Jan covertly begin working with the Resistance. They put into action plans to save lives out of what has become the Warsaw Ghetto, with Antonina putting herself and even her children at great risk.
THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE SYNOPSIS
- A film based on true a story of one working wife and mother who became a hero to hundreds during World War II.
- In 1939 Poland, Antonina Żabiński (portrayed by two-time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain) and her husband, Dr. Jan Żabiński (from “The Broken Circle Breakdown”), have the Warsaw Zoo flourishing under his stewardship and her care.
- When their country is invaded by the Nazis, Jan and Antonina are stunned.
- This forces them to report to the Reich’s newly appointed chief zoologist, Lutz Heck.
- To fight back on their own terms, the Żabińskis covertly begin working with the Resistance.
- They put into action plans to save lives out of what has become the Warsaw Ghetto.
- Antonina puts herself and her family at great risk.
This film is a must-see for animal lovers & war-movie buffs. It focuses on the Warsaw Zoo keepers couple Jan and Antonina Żabiński, who saved many human and animal lives during World War II by hiding them in animal cages. The film is scheduled to be released on March 31, 2017, by Focus Features.