Reading Log #2
Text title: The Zookeeper's Wife
Text type: Visual text
Author/Director: Niki Caro
'The Zookeeper's Wife' is a drama/history film directed by Niki Caro. The film is about a doctor named Dr. Jan Zabinski, and his wife Antonina who are the keepers of the Warsaw zoo in Poland. This zoo was one of the largest and most prolific zoos in 1930s Europe. On September 1, 1939, Antonina and her son Ryszard are shocked to witness the great amount of bombs being dropped before their very eyes. They later discover that their country is being invaded by the German forces. Jews living in Poland are instantly put into the Ghetto, Jan and Antonina both putting their lives at complete risk, hide Jews in their house to avoid them from being put into the ghetto. Dr Heck was a man working with Nazi's and claimed he owned the zoo, Jan and Antonina. Heck, being the owner of Berlin zoo and ''Hitler's zoologist'' suggests moving the surviving animals to the Berlin zoo until the war in Poland is over.
The bombs dropped over Warsaw had a horrific impact on the Warsaw Zoo, leaving the majority of animals dead, and a lot of damage. Being part of the Polish resistance, Jan used this opportunity to secretly smuggle Jews in and out of the Warsaw Ghetto. We see this when he and his son Ryszard drive into the Ghetto, claiming that they're collecting food scraps for the surviving pigs at the zoo. While he makes his way into the ghetto trying to rescue a group of Jews, Jan comes across a young girl named Urszla who had just been raped by two Nazi guards. He saw how emotional this young girl was and what state she was in. Basically covered in blood and shaking in fear. Jan immediately insists that Urzsla leave the ghetto with he and his son. Under the front seat where Ryszard is sitting, Urzsla is put beneath his feet hiding under a jacket and is told to try and stay calm. As for the group of Jews, they're put beneath a large amount of food scraps at the back of the truck. Jan succeeds as Nazi's do not see them hiding beneath the scraps or Urszla in the front.
I personally believe that Jan and Antonina are both inspirational people because they saw first hand the injustice, the suppression, the oppression and took action in line with their morals, and were able to formulate change. I feel as if Antonina had an equal contribution in the overall situation. Antonina would take Jews down into the basement where they would sleep and were told not to make a sound when people were to arrive. She would play the piano as a signal for them when it was safe to come out and have dinner. She managed to earn the trust of Nazi's which would've been extremely difficult and uncomfortable in some ways for her, because little did they know, the Zabinski's were saving people that they hate. As for Jan I mentioned earlier in the text he would smuggle Jews in and out of the ghetto. This film gave me a motivational insight as to how far good people would go to put their lives on the line to save those in danger. I was disgusted how people were being treated in the ghetto. The fact that they were pulled out of their own homes and thrown into this place was horrible.
Jan shows extreme bravery in a certain part of the film when he participates in the Warsaw Uprising which was an operation by the Polish resistance to unbind Warsaw from German occupation. This results into Jan getting shot in the neck and captured by Nazi's. Worried sick about her husband, Antonina visits Dr Heck (who is mentioned in the first paragraph) and asks if he knows where her husband is being held. Upon Antonina's arrival Dr Heck begins to get suspicious as he heard her son Ryszard say earlier "Hitler ist kaputt" this could mean many things. Such as being crazy, to be broken or be dead. Dr Heck being a Hitler supporter, instantly questions Antonina as to why he heard her son saying this. He then finds out Antonina is hiding Jews in her house and she rushes back in time to warn them that Dr Heck and armed forces are on their way. They escape and make it away in time before Dr Heck arrives. He runs downstairs to where the Jews were being kept and discovers drawings on the walls of yellow stars. In retaliation, Dr Heck holds a gun to Ryszards head right in front of his mother.
In conclusion, this film really did touch me. I was blown away because Antonina and Jan were willing to take on such a high-risk role. 'The Zookeepers Wife' is a heartbreaking, but also truly inspiring film. The Zabinskis knew that what they were doing would've cost their lives. After seeing the sacrifices that were made to try and keep the lives of others alive is what truly inspired me. Overall, the Zabinskis managed to save 300 lives during the invasion of Warsaw. This film did get me thinking about The Diary of Anne Frank, because of how similar the personalities were. Anne showed great bravery during her hiding, as for Jan and Antonina also showing bravery by hiding Jews in their home.
