Awards: Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival - Jury Award Best Actor, Taos Talking Picture Festival - Best Film and Taos Land Grant Award

This film has one overriding theme: in the inhumane world that surrounds us, the important thing is the touch of hands between family, friends, new acquaintances and even the animals we come in contact with throughout our days. The director, Ralph Ziman, crystallizes this throughout his entire film, which takes place in an Eastern European country (no name) in the confines of a zoo in time of war. His technique provides us with boundaries and a limited cast of characters that we, as the audience, can attempt to understand. War used in films many times overwhelms the audience with its audacity and huge emotional peaks. THE ZOOKEEPER stays at the level of a few individuals we understand and relate to as their situation is presented. Two performances must be pointed out, one small and one of great proportions. The small but crystalline performance is given by the man who plays the vet in the early part of the film, Om Puri. His only crime is to be different in appearance, the never-ending sin. The role of the protagonist is played by Sam Neil, of "Jurassic Park" and "The Dish" fame. He is Ludovic, the zookeeper, who provides the center of the story. Without his strong and focussed presentation, the film would be ordinary. Ziman's work is both poignant and hopeful. (Synopsis by Fred Linch.)

Principal Cast: Sam Neill, Gina McKee, Ulrich Thomsen, Om Puri, Marek Vasut, Javor Loznica

Filmography:
2001 Zookeeper, The
1996 Hearts and Minds

Website Link: http://www.zookeeperthemovie.com/

top

back to film page