Every day is a ‘moving day’ in the engrossing ‘Zoo’
Perhaps the most forgotten casualties of Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine are the thousands of animals caught in the crossfire through no fault of their own. I’ve often wondered how they fared. That question has been partially answered by “Checkpoint Zoo,” director Joshua Zeman’s harrowing, heart-wrenching and sometimes funny documentary about how a dozen or so brave souls risked their lives rescuing approximately 4,700 animals from the bombed-out Feldman Ecopark in Kharkiv.
The zoo was under siege from Day One of the invasion, caught in the no-man’s land smack between the Russian border, less than 10 miles to the north, and Ukraine’s second-largest city, roughly the same distance to the south. Or, as the local residents refer to it, the “gray zone.” Most of the facility’s 5,000 critters survived the initial bombardment, but were temporarily abandoned as the Ecopark staff either took shelter or fled the city altogether.
So, for a week in the dead of winter, the animals went without heat, food and water, a crisis that left the park’s owner, Oleksandr Feldman, devestated. He vowed to ride to the rescue, abetted by his communications director, Vadym Vorotynskyy, and a daring brigade of young volunteers dubbed “The Boys,” led by twentysomething veterinarian Tymofii Kharchenko. Dodging near-constant shelling, they spent the next 65 days removing everything from kangaroos and peacocks, to goats and moose, to lions and tigers.
Not only were the Samaritans endangered by the Russian and Ukrainian artillery, but they also risked losing life and limb to the ravenous beasts, as one unfortunate zoo employee discovered while attempting to feed the lions.
Much of the herculean effort was recorded on cellphones, providing us with a palpable “you are there” testament to the daily peril of an operation that resulted in six humans losing their lives, two of them shot point-blank by Russian soldiers. Another casualty was the 15-year-old son of a park employee, who wanted only to be a part of the evacuation.
Death, sadly, also came to a few dozen creatures, some of whom fell victim to psychotic Russian troops who fired upon the petting zoo for “kicks,” and others who died of heart attacks triggered by the obvious panic and fear. Then there was the bomb that severely damaged the “predators” section of the zoo. The escape of the bears and big cats seemed inevitable. And once on the loose, that would have been all she wrote for the rescue effort.
But miraculously, at around the same time, the zoo’s plight went viral, and soon supplies, including desperately needed tranquilizers and other medical supplies, started pouring in, saving the magnificent, but extremely dangerous, kings of the jungle from euthanization. It’s about then that the tear ducts activate and your heart swells, overcome by the immense kindness and generosity displayed against the backdrop of death and destruction. Still, there was the quandary of finding a safe and secure place to serve as a temporary home for the animals.
Initially, it was Feldman’s multi-acre mansion on the outskirts of the wealthy businessman’s hometown of Kharkiv. It’s comical to see his house and yard inhabited by exotic animals, some roaming free, like the caracal (a wild cat known for its hunting prowess) that shocked Feldman on his way to the bathroom one night and nearly cost him his “manhood.” It’s hard not to admire his undaunted spirit and chuckle a bit when Vorotynskyy aptly dubs Feldman’s estate “Noah’s Ark.”
Co-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, the film is an emotional roller-coaster as thrilling and nail-biting as any “Mission: Impossible” flick. I was riveted throughout and thoroughly disarmed by the charismatic personalities of the heroic members of “The Boys.” One of 15 siblings, Kharchenko – their leader – is particularly endearing, not to mention selfless, joining the Ukrainian army as a medic following the completion of operation “Noah’s Ark.”
He’s easily the nucleus of a movie that marks a significant departure for Zeman, who’s largely built his career around directing true-crime documentaries. But here, he manages to impart a soul-stirring quality that renders “Checkpoint Zoo” an irresistible, hugely entertaining experience. You might even say it’s a roaring success.
Movie review
Checkpoint Zoo
Rated: Not rated
Featuring: Oleksandr Feldman, Tymofii Kharchenko, Vadym Vorotynskyy and Andrii Tyvaniuk
Director: Joshua Zeman
Runtime: 107 minutes
Where: In theaters Aug. 15 (limited)
Grade: A-
