The Holocaust was a horrible time in history filled with grief, frustration, betrayal, and fear. Still, in the middle of all that agony, there are stories of hope and humanity. The Zookeeper’s Wife is not a just a tale about a couple risking their lives to save others, it is the other face of war.

For those of you who haven’t seen it, the film is based on the real Zabinski family that lived on the Warsaw Zoo in Poland before, during and after the Second World War. During the Nazi invasion in Poland, the zoo was devastated and the few animals that survived were either taken to the Berlin Zoo or killed. When the Jews were relocated to the Ghetto, the Zabinski family decided to use the zoo as a secret refuge, but not only that, they also used it as a pig’s farm to feed the German/ Nazi Army. Ironical right? Is during that time that both Antonina and Jan Zabinski live a double life in order to help save their friends and themselves.

There is so much to learn from Antonina, her husband Jan and her son Ryszard. She, with a fragile and innocent aspect, must play a game of survival. Despite this movie being about the Holocaust, it is a story that presents a ‘hopeful’ image of such catastrophic and inhuman events. Yes, we see fear. Yes, we see desperation and despair. Yes, we see injustice. But there is something more. Antonina proves to be clever: she has pulled all this off while having her ‘friend’ Heck constantly visiting the zoo. In fact, it is she that convinces him to use the zoo as a pig’s farm. She is also sympathetic and compassionate which is reflected in her scene with Ursula.

Jan, on the other hand, is smart and loving. He’s strict when needs to be but deep down he is a humanitarian. His reaction to Ursula’s rape really touched me. That fury and impotence ate him inside but still, he manages to keep ‘cool’ as he passes by the German guards. His love for Antonina is admirable. I dare say that their relationship is many couple’s dreams. It isn’t perfect. At some point they have their difficulties, and that its to be expected. They are living a very stressful situation, still, this doesn’t distract them from their mission and eventually get through the rough patch.

The decision and actions made by the couple are honorable. Now, from a kid’s perspective, there are no words to describe such valor. Rys’ childhood, as well as many others from that time, were taken away. They were forced to grow up and take responsibilities that weren’t appropriate for them. To live a life in secrecy and caution, to lie in order to preserve their lives as well as others isn’t easy for a child. It isn’t even easy for an adult. Still, even though it all seems impossible, Rys tries to do what he is told. As he grows a bit older he even feels it is his duty to protect his mom and the rest of his family and friends. That is why he follows his dad, lies to Heck, defies the Nazi regime and stays behinds when everyone else evacuates the zoo.

I’m pretty sure they weren’t the perfect family. All that social conflict and the double life they had to endure must have very tiring. What is really meant is that they managed to stay united enough to carry out this act of bravery and humanism in a time when everything seemed to be lost. That is the lesson I took from this movie. And now that the world seems to have forgotten its past mistakes, this message is even more pertinent.

Before I finish, I must recognize the excellent job of all the talented actors that gave life to these amazing human beings: Jessica Chastain (Antonina), Johan Heldenbergh (Jan), Daniel Brühl (Heck), and Val Maloku (Rys), as well as all the others.

If you haven’t The Zookeeper’s Wife, I strongly recommend that you do. If you have already, leave a comment below and share whatever impressed you the most about it.