Free tickets for the Zookeeper’s Wife

Two-time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain stars in The Zookeeper’s Wife in the title role of Antonina Żabińska, a real-life working wife and mother who became a hero to hundreds during WWII.

Niki Caro (Whale Rider, North Country) directs the movie from a screenplay by Angela Workman, adapted from Diane Ackerman’s nonfiction book of the same name which was based on Antonina’s diaries.

The time is 1939. The place is Poland, homeland of Antonina (portrayed by Ms. Chastain) and her husband, Dr. Jan Żabiński (Johan Heldenbergh, of The Broken Circle Breakdown). Devoted to each other, the couple thrive as personal and professional partners; the Warsaw Zoo flourishes under Jan’s stewardship and Antonina’s care. With reserves of energy, Antonina rises every day to tend to both her family and their menagerie, as the gates to the majestic zoo open in welcome…

…until the entrance is slammed shut and the zoo is crippled in an attack as the entire country is invaded by the Germans. Stunned, the couple is forced to report to the Reich’s newly appointed chief zoologist, Lutz Heck (Golden Globe Award nominee Daniel Brühl of Captain America: Civil War). Heck envisions a new, selective breeding program for the zoo.

Antonina and Jan fight back on their own terms, and covertly begin working with the Resistance – realising that their zoo’s abandoned animal cages and underground tunnels, originally designed to safeguard animal life, can now secretly safeguard human life. As the couple puts into action plans to save lives out of what has become the Warsaw Ghetto, Antonina places herself and even her children at great risk.

 

A Focus Features presentation of a Scion Films production, an Electric City Entertainment, Tollin Productions and Rowe Miller Productions production. A Film by Niki Caro. Jessica Chastain. The Zookeeper’s Wife. Johan Heldenbergh, Michael McElhatton, and Daniel Brühl. Casting by Elaine Grainger, Maya Kvetny. Music by Harry Gregson-Williams. Costume Designer, Sabine Daigeler. Make-up and Hair Designer, Denise Kum. Editor, David Coulson. Production Designer, Suzie Davies. Cinematographer, Andrij Parekh. Executive Producers, Marc Butan, Robbie Rowe Tollin, Mike Tollin, Jessica Chastain, Kevan Van Thompson, Mickey Liddell, Pete Shilaimon, Jennifer Monroe. Produced by Jeff Abberley, p.g.a., Jamie Patricof, p.g.a., Diane Miller Levin, p.g.a., Kim Zubick, p.g.a. Based on the Book by Diane Ackerman. Written by Angela Workman. Directed by Niki Caro. A Focus Features Release.

The Zookeeper’s Wife will be released in Australia on May 4.

J-Wire has double passes for special a special preview screening

Sydney         Tuesday         April 18

Adelaide       Thursday      April 20

Melbourne  Wednesday   April 26

To win a double pass you must be a subscriber to J-Wire or if not be willing to us add your name and email address and tell us which city you want to attend the preview.

In 25 words or less tell us what your choice of news…local news, international news or features.

Send to zoo@jwire.com.au using your subscriber email address.

Winners will be notified of cinema details.