CHECKPOINT ZOO – Review by Lynn Venhaus
It is impossible to watch any part of the gripping, haunting and heart-tugging documentary Checkpoint Zoo and not be moved by both the human stories and the animal predicaments caused by an unprovoked war. Set during the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, we see the ripple effect and the pain caused by such a needless conflict.
Caught in the crossfire between the Russian front line and the Ukrainian solders, the Feldman Ecopark, a beloved zoo in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, is no longer a tranquil tourist attraction and nature haven used for animal therapy and education.
Director Joshua Zeman takes a thoughtful yet hard-hitting approach to depicting the danger involved as this treasured home to over 5,000 animals is damaged by shell attacks. The animals, forced to be in cages and not in harm’s way, are traumatized by the explosions and gunfire. They are afraid, confused and hungry, without much food and water.
Because a heroic group of volunteers helped the zookeepers, first to feed the menagerie and then after winter and war have taken their toll during a 71-day evacuation, they manage to save as many animals as possible.
We’re talking alpacas, tapirs, ostriches, apes, lions, tigers, bears, parrots, kangaroos, moose, donkeys, pigs, meerkats, and camels, to name a few.
The world has lent a hand with supplies, and other zoos have opened their doors to take the animals in, with 98% of the 4,700 animals rescued going to the Kovalivka Ecopark, near Poltava.
Zeman, acclaimed for Cropsey, The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52, and The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness, captures the daring rescue with a keen eye for raw emotions and the taut and tense storytelling of an action thriller.
His film crew, who had unrestricted access, documented gut-wrenching moments through hundreds of video and sound recordings, for six people close to the mission died during this period.
Because some video clips went viral during the 2022 evacuation, they also benefit from news accounts and film from the zoo itself, showing how harrowing day to day conditions are.
Once a place of comfort and joy, this cherished zoo is destroyed by relentless attacks. Owner Oleksandr Feldman’s compassion, after losing both his market in business for 35 years, and the zoo he founded in 2011 as a caring, safe space, is remarkable – a real profile in courage.
Feldman, a Jewish philanthropist, opened his home to many of the struggling animals, referring to it as “Noah’s Ark.”
He had employed 100 people at the park, but after the war started and people fled their homes, he was down to 10 employees. And the attacks left the zoo without electricity, water and heat. Thus, his public plea for help on social media.
Regular folk who donned superhero capes to risk their lives for the animals showed up to help, including veterinarian Tymofii Kharchenko, who was so moved by the experience that he joined the Ukrainian Army.
Some of the more memorable people interviewed include Svitlana Vyshnevetska, Vadym Vorotynskyy, Vitalii Ilchenko and Andrii Tyvaniuk, a former drug addict healed by working with animals and Feldman giving him a helping hand.
Tyvaniuk offered this profound comment: “Not all animals are animals, and not all humans are humans. But many animals are humans, and a whole lot of people are animals.”
Neighbors who lived nearby, Vitalii and Svitlana Selevin and their 15-year-old son Denis, were used to visiting the park countless times. What happens to them, adversely affected by the warfare, is unforgettable.
The movie convinces you to care deeply about the mental health and well-being of the animals, from the majestic big cat predators to the colorfully plumed birds. You will understand these creatures in ways you never imagined and appreciate the deep attachment the workers have to them.
Checkpoint Zoo packs an emotional wallop as it delves into a tragedy depicting moments of grace, love and victories, small and large. It never loses sight of the humanity on display either.
The film won the second place Audience Award at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, and multiple awards on the festival circuit. It is now opening in theatres.
