User reviews

It's 1941 Belfast. Tom Hall is excited about the arrival of baby elephant Buster to the zoo. His father is its veterinarian and is sent off to war. After a night of bombing, officials order the killing of the zoo's predators fearing an escape of the dangerous animals. Tom is horrified and he learns that Buster could be next if the bombings continue. Tom decides to liberate Buster with the help of troubled classmate Jane Berry. They recruit big kid Pete. On the night of the rescue, Pete brings along his dwarf brother Mickey. The group is discovered by Security Guard Charlie (Toby Jones) but he allows them to escape. They are forced to hide Buster in the backyard of reclusive animal lady Denise Austin.

This is a sweet story for kids and for kids at heart. This is one for the animal lovers. If it's missing anything, it's missing a more threatening villain. The bully kid could have more time on screen. He could have intensified the tension. As it stands, the tension isn't that high. The kids are sweet. The relationship is heart-breaking. At least, that's a fictionalization of the true story.

Poignant drama as a group of youths aided by an animal loving neighbor, are willing to go to any lengths to save a baby elephant during the Belfast Blitz , in 1941.

However, the film is not all touchy-feely , as there are some sad and tense scenes as well.The characters are certainly believable, and it's all tied together and presented well by the writer and director Colin McIvor.

All in all, I found this movie to be an engaging and uplifting tale.

Sweet and gentle viewing. Strong cast, even the young actors.

A beautiful family drama,about a little zoo in a little village just outside belfast,nortern ireland.its an emotional story about an elephant and his human rescuers and friends during the devastating time of 2nd world war blitz-krieg phase.

it is a sweet but also sad story about love,engagement,poverty,life and death,good and evil ,made through a great filmographic,audio/visual production,and a whole lot of great young actors.even though i understand english language pretty well,the irish slang are at time hopeless to understand when spoken with low voice,anyway,the worse the dialect the better.geordie is fein..... the pace are a little slow but it gives time for recollection on wartime for the younger viewers.

This is an enjoyable family adventure which always seems to have the threat of war in the background. All the leading actors do a good job and even the one bully has a softer side, while the other bully remains just that. We even get to laugh every now and then.

Penelope Wilton makes a remarkable transformation from what seems like an evil witch to a kind and caring person.

Emily Flain is kind but tough as a possible romantic interest who is mainly just a good and helpful friend.

Toby Jones stands out as an obnoxious security guard at the zoo, but even he has a kind side he just won't let show.

James Stockdale is a little person with an attitude, who lets people know he's just has capable as anyone else. His role is ... short, but he makes us notice him.

I don't know why a family film like this would get a TV-14 V-chip rating. I do know some words didn't make it to broadcast TV, but there isn't really anything here to justify such a stern warning. Little kids probably shouldn't see some scenes because this is war, people are frightened, and there is damage. Not everyone survives to the end, but no one is shown dying. People grieve, but life goes on. And of course not all animals survive because certain people are overly cautious with the threat of bombing, but again, you don't see what happens.

In the U. S., we don't have prayer in the public schools but we might have back then. It's not clear whether the kids attend a Catholic school but the teacher does pray. Pauline Hutton, I believe it is, does such a good job in that scene.

There is nice scenery, mainly at the zoo, but we don't really get to see just how beautiful Northern Ireland is. Other scenes show a working class neighborhood which is not really attractive, but that's just how it is.

It's a fine effort.

Zoo is a fictionalised representation of true events.

Belfast Zoo had to shoot some of its animals during World War 2. The city had to withstand German air raids in 1941.

Some schoolkids led by Tom Hall rescue the baby elephant Buster from the zoo and hide it in the house of a reclusive, eccentric elderly lady. Her house is a menagerie.

Director Colin McIvor has made the most of the low budget. It really looks good on the screen.

It is an old fashioned family film, there is even a school bully who is a fly in the ointment and a grumpy zoo gatekeeper.

Several characters reveal a heart of gold. However there is also tragedy, those German bombs leave lasting damage behind.

Kids would enjoy this film, it is a light story with some sweetness and some darkness as well.

I've just seen this and agree with the other reviews that this is a great family movie. No need for flashy cgi just a good story and great acting. They do lay it on thick but this is what this story deserves. Nice comedy moments make this a great hour and a half's viewing. If you have a chance catch this movie you'll not be disappointed.

I've just watched this beautiful film. Coming from N. Ireland it is just amazing to watch a film which shows the heart and soul of our wee country. The sights and sounds bring home the emotions felt during the second world war. Loads of places we know and love, showing Belfast was used to film this. The story is just beautiful, quite a roller coaster of emotions, well for a Mum of 3 and animal lover. The story captures what it is like to be a child in a world where everything seems unfair. I was fully emersed in the journey and loved every minute of it. I laughed and cried and just fell in love. A must for the family to watch.

I really hate this film use fire to burn do not watch

Well written. Great acting. Anyone who gives this less than 7 star obviously only wants to watch super hero movies. Good historical perspective of WW2 time in Ireland. Whole family enjoyed this. Was it slow at times? Yeah probably. But that was ok. It fit this movie fine. Give it a shot. You won't be disappointed.

The movie has a decent quality with lots of sweet, humanitarian, kind, generous characters. This seems to be an exaggerated fiction of an extremely banal plot but, overall, it is funny and quite exciting if only for the presence of the animals.

With two young children we are always on the look out for a film to watch as a family. Zoo was the perfect choice. It is easy for young children to relate and connect to the central characters in this movie. It also gives children today an insight into what life was like for those caught living through WWII. There are some very sad moments but it is also genuinely funny and one of the most uplifting films I've seen in a long time.

During March Break TIFF (the Toronto International Film Festival) had a kids film festival. We were able to take 3 of our 4 kids (aged 7 to 13) to see this film.

This film was simply great. It is based on a true story of what happened with a Zoo in Belfast during the Nazi bombing raids. As you can imagine zoo animals breaking free due to the bombings could pose a serious threat to the people in the area. For that reason the government decided to take pre-emptive action of putting down the dangerous animals. The story focuses on one boys mission to save an elephant from that fate. But he can't do it alone.

At the end of the film there was a unanimous round of applause. But, even more telling was that as we departed the theatre it seemed as though everyone was discussing their favourite parts. Many of the kids could be heard excitedly talking about what they would have done had they been in that situation. To me that is the hallmark of a film that really connected with its audience. I can see my parents and grandparents also enjoying this film, so I would recommend it for all ages.

As soon as it is released, I'm planning to take our other daughter who had to miss it the first time - I suspect I won't be taking her alone.

Based upon a true story, as you will find come the final sequences, this is a bit short (in terms of its length), but wonderfully entertaining with little or no foul language and a group of kids who take it upon themselves during wartime Belfast to help a Baby elephant at the Zoo. The adults play their parts very well, the kids provide great entertainment, not to mention the animals and of course "Nellie" who plays the part of the Elephant-who is the centre of the piece. Watch this one, really good

This movie drove me to emotions and cry . I couldn't stop crying. Really a great movie ! This movie shows us the situation of people during War .

Without making it the movie of the year, this pretty movie is a sweet story for the family in the broadest sense of the term, parents, children, and also for animal lovers. The story is beautiful and moreover taken from a true story. The action takes place in Belfast (Ireland), when the Germans bomb Belfast during World War II. The children play a superb role in it and the movie is free from profanity, rare become family films without vulgar acts or other gratuitous violent action. Here a beautiful and good little movie for all audiences. 1:30 am of relaxation.

This a great little film to see with your mates on a Friday night. We all love it

Very few people know that, both Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland were bombed during WWII accidently or intentionally. This story shows the Belfast bombings, and all bombings, from an angle that isn't normally shown.

Something we never think of is, normal life we're used to, being destroyed, which doesn't relate to human life. We know of homes, pubs cinemas, theatres and factories being destroyed. We never think of Zoos, Forests, Heritage Sites also being bombed.

I won't delve into the movie, it speaks for itself. A lovely, heartbreaking movie about an event, very few know about.

On a personal level, an Uncle of mine was a volunteer Fireman in Dundalk in the South of Ireland. When Belfast was bombed, he formed a group of volunteers, who drove to Belfast, to fight the fires after the bombings. As he is long passed I'll never be able to ask if he was anywhere near the Zoo.

I am an animal lover, so was he. I would like to think he did the best he could, for both human and animal.