The Zookeeper's Wife

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.

Questions persist about the tone and approach.

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.

A compelling story bolstered by engaging performances from Jessica Chastain and Daniel Brühl, let down by occasional awkward tonal shifts and clumsy plotting.

The film's inability to capture the plights of its human victims in comparably arresting terms leave its priorities feeling, at best, naively jumbled.

Caro floods the film's frames with light, resulting in a film far prettier than expected, but more sanitised too.

“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.

The Zookeeper's Wife is an accomplished picture, offering a fascinating history lesson even as it remains wholly topical.

Dr. Jan Żabiński and Antonina Żabińska were named to the Righteous Among the Nations and The Zookeeper's Wife shows why.

Chastain holds the centre of the story, providing a steely, compelling - although distractingly accented - character.