One of the biggest flaws with movies based on true stories is too often the ending is known before viewing of the film begins. The lack of tension that creates must be given a transfusion of some other element or the production is dead on arrival. In the case of "Titanic," it was an emphasis on the love story. With a film like "Battle of the Sexes," it was standout performances by Steve Carell and Emma Stone that scored an ace with the tale of Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King.
The events behind Colin McIvor's "Zoo" might not be as well known to American moviegoers as those in Europe, but the amount of knowledge of this drama set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, at the beginning of World War II isn't important. McIvor has written and directed a script that shows the power of human kindness, the devastating effect of war, the importance of family and what can be accomplished when people are driven by boundless hope.
This all comes together to make "Zoo" one of the sweetest, most touching, heartbreaking and uplifting movies of the year. An even bigger bonus is it's is a movie for the entire family, a rarity in theaters these days for a movie that isn't animated.
The true part is 12-year-old Tom Hall (Art Parkinson) has developed a passion for the animals in the Belfast Zoo, where his father worked as one of the caretakers until being called to fight in World War II. Tom's care turns to concern when military officials decide all the dangerous animals in the zoo must be killed rather than take the chance they will escape during the German air raids on Belfast.
After the first wave of animals are slaughtered, Tom and a group of friends decide they must steal Buster the baby elephant and hide him until the attacks stop. Trying to hide an elephant _ even a baby one _ is no small feat.
Instead of addressing the elephant in the room, McIvor masterfully turns the focus on Tom and his partners in crime. They not only share a passion to protect the animal, but are all linked by the pain and scars they carry. Tom struggles with trying to keep the work his father was doing from being lost. The theft of the elephant is a large example of the burden young people must face when war tears away parental figures.
Tom gets the courage he needs to pull of the theft from Jane (Emily Flain), a young girl who has lost her father to a continuing battle with liquor. The pain she endures while trying to take care of the father she adores can be seen in each sad stare and in the timid way she treats the world. While she gives Tom the courage he needs, Tom gives Jane the chance to see an act of kindness doesn't always come with a brutal reply.
It's always a great discovery when a movie has one young actor with the kind of acting skills that normally would be found in a more veteran actor. In this case, both Parkinson and Flain show commanding presence that gives the movie a solid central core surrounded by a host of strong supporting players. You know it is a strong cast when Toby Jones is overshadowed.
Equally interesting is bully-turned-ally Pete (Ian O'Reilly) and local eccentric Mrs. Austin (Penelope Wilton), the animal lover who provides the hiding place for Buster. Both characters drive home the importance of family. Pete is tough at school, but at home he shows a deep love for his brother (James Stockdale), while Mrs. Austin has allowed heartbreak to rule her life.
It is how deeply textured these characters are presented by McIvor that gives the tale such depth and strength. The 2017 release "The Zookeeper's Wife" dealt with a similar theme, as it was based on the true story of what happened at the Warsaw Zoo during World War II. "Wife" had a human element, but it was often overshadowed by the political elements, including the larger story of how the zoo became a sanctuary for people trying to escape the Nazi killing machine.
"Zoo" has a more intimate feel and deals with very relatable elements, including McIvor finding a few moments for humor. The occasional light moments serve as a nice balance to the seriousness of war, delivered in one particularly powerful moment that is the biggest reminder that the film is based on a true story.
