Zoo 2017

     This film is based on a true story.  Buster is a baby elephant that has been brought to the Belfast Zoo as a new addition to the animals in 1941.  Unfortunately, the word goes out that all the dangerous animals must be killed for the safety of the village.  Marksmen from the Royal Ulster Constabulary have orders from The Ministry of Public Security to shoot 23 animals.  It's expected that there will be air raids and bombings of Belfast.  Twelve-year-old Tom’s father is a keeper at the zoo but he is away fighting in the war.  Tom knows he wants to also become a zookeeper and he must save as many animals as he can now.  Tom feels he must save Buster because he feels he’s not a danger to the people.  He asks two of his school friends to help him and Penelope Wilton joins up with them.

     It was tough on a lot of the residents to hear the guns firing and knowing the animals they loved at the zoo were being killed.  Tom knew his father would try to save them but he’s not available.  The elephant was special because he was just a baby and new at the zoo.  Tom knew it wasn’t possible to save all the animals but they had to try with Buster.  They realized the large cats would be dangerous if they escaped from the zoo because of the bombings.  3 ½* (I liked this movie) 

  

97 min, Family directed by Colin McIvor with Toby Jones, Penelope Wilton, Art Parkinson, Ian McElhinney, Amy Huberman, Damian O’Hare, Stephen Hagan, James Stockdale, Lalor Roddy, Emily Flain, Geraldine McAlinden, Ian O’Reilly, Maggie Cronin, Pauline Hutton, Seamus O’Hara.

Note:  Imdb 6.7 out of 10, 88% critic 52% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.8* out of 5* with 18 reviews, Common Sense Media 4* out of 5*, age 10+ positive 4*, role models 4*, violence 3*, language 3*, drinking, drugs & smoking 1*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK and Canada.  Some scenes were filmed at the Belfast Zoo.  Denise was a lot younger in real life than portrayed in this film.  She worked in the zoo and she had no family.  She died on 17 July 1997 and was buried in Ardess graveyard near Kesh, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.  A small stone elephant was placed on her grave early this year in memory of her actions during the Belfast Blitz.