THE STORY – In the early stages of the Russian-Ukrainian War, almost 5,000 animals were trapped behind enemy lines in a wildlife park. The film relates the story of their dramatic rescue.
THE CAST – Oleksandr Feldman
THE TEAM – Joshua Zeman (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 103 Minutes
Joshua Zeman’s “Checkpoint Zoo” opens with brutal images of war. It’s the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There are scenes of carnage and urban combat as the city of Kharkiv is scorched by Russian shelling. The sound of air raid sirens fills the air as often as the sound of bombs. Millions of people have begun fleeing the country, but one group is stuck in the middle of the crossfire with nowhere to go: the 5,000 animals at Feldman Ecopark. Left with little food and water and with the Russian army moving in, a group of zookeepers and volunteers risk their lives to evacuate the animals. This seemingly impossible mission is a gripping display of heroism by everyone involved, fueled only by passion for what they do and love for animals.
The audience is quickly overwhelmed by the image of helpless animals in cages, their faces illuminated by the orange glow of a blast. The sounds of shelling are responded to with the growls of a lion. Feldman Ecopark was once described as a fairytale: a beautiful haven for animals of all kinds, from turtles and llamas to monkeys and tigers. Footage of the park shot before the war is shown to illustrate this fact, as it flourished with thousands of visitors each year. Now, sitting in between the Russian and Ukrainian front lines, shards of missiles litter the park. Bullet holes, riddle display glass, and various enclosures are on the verge of crumbling. And when an airstrike hits right at the zoo’s entrance, it’s clear that these animals don’t have much time left. If they don’t die from the shelling, they will die from cold or starvation. But how do you evacuate 5,000 animals?
Before the invasion, Feldman Ecopark had 100 employees. Understandably, most have fled. Now, it’s up to 10 individuals – and a group of volunteers – to try to save all of these animals. The audience is provided with a first-hand account of the rescue, shown in raw, powerful footage captured by the workers and volunteers themselves. Talking head interviews with many of these heroic individuals provide added commentary on what it was like during this time, being in the middle of a warzone. We even get to know the founder of Feldman Ecopark himself, Oleksandr Feldman, whose home eventually becomes one safe zone for many of the animals. Through him, as well as the rest of the film’s subjects, we learn how much these animals mean to them, but also to their home of Kharkiv.
Many people thought this group insane for willingly risking their lives for animals, especially when many had families at home. The film makes it clear that taking on this mission isn’t an easy one, and it takes an emotional toll on all involved. Each time they return to the zoo to try to save more animals, they run the risk of being killed, and they suffer heartbreaking losses. There’s uncertainty at every moment, and at times, it feels like a hopeless cause. But the fact that they continue despite it all shows such immeasurable bravery.
What’s especially compelling about the documentary is how it dives into the psychological effects of war on animals, something you don’t often hear about. If humans are terrified of the constant sound of explosions, animals would be too. Even though at almost every moment they are being shelled, they manage to find some levity in the midst of horror. The animals help the zookeepers and volunteers forget reality, and they share personal stories of how these animals have helped them, whether before the invasion or during. This creates a full picture of what these animals mean to them, and you can see their presence helps the animals, too.
“Checkpoint Zoo” offers a fresh perspective on war, as it captures the forgotten victims of human conflict. It’s a harrowing documentary but also an extremely beautiful one in its display of humanity at a time when all humanity seems lost. One of the workers says the following, which captures the entire essence of the piece: “Not all animals are animals, and not all humans are humans. But, many animals are humans, and a whole lot of people are animals.”
