Plot Summary:
Set in an unnamed Eastern European country during a brutal civil war, The Zookeeper tells the harrowing and emotional story of Ludovic, a reclusive and emotionally scarred man who works as the caretaker of a city zoo.
As the city falls under siege and chaos spreads, most of the zookeepers and staff flee, leaving Ludovic behind. He chooses to stay behind to care for the animals, seeking refuge and purpose in their well-being. The zoo becomes both his sanctuary and prison as the war rages around him.
Soon, Ludovic’s isolation is disrupted when a woman named Zioigra, a former opera singer, and her young son Emile seek shelter in the zoo. They are fleeing ethnic persecution and need a place to hide. Though initially reluctant, Ludovic allows them to stay, and over time, a bond forms between the three.
As the siege intensifies, Ludovic not only fights to protect the animals but also risks his life to shield Zioigra and Emile from the atrocities happening outside the zoo’s walls. His transformation from a detached loner into a man willing to sacrifice for others is at the heart of the film.
