In 1941 marksmen from the Royal Ulster Constabulary, following a Directive from The Ministry of Public Security, shot dead 23 animals at Belfast Zoo. They destroyed one hyena, six wolves, one puma, one tiger, one black bear, one Barbary lion, two polar bears, one lynx and giant rat named Hugo. During these turbulent times, a woman secretly walked a young elephant from the zoo each evening to the back yard of her terraced home. There she cared for and comforted it as the Luftwaffe bombs rained down over Belfast.
Inspired by this true story, Zoo sees Tom, a 10-year-old boy, take on the fight to save Buster the elephant aided and abetted by his misfit friends.
Art Parkinson (Kubo and the Two Strings) plays Tom, with all-star cast of Irish and UK actors in support including Toby Jones (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Penelope Wilton (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones), Stephen Hagan (Stan Lee's Lucky Man), Amy Huberman (Striking Out), Lalor Roddy (Grabbers), Maggie Cronin (High-Rise), and Geraldine McAlinden (The Secret Scripture).
The film is directed by Colin McIvor (Cup Cake) from his own script. DoP is Damien Elliott (Morgan), with Brian Philip Davis (Bad Day for the Cut) and Chris Gill (The Guard) as editors. Production design is by John Leslie (Bad Day for the Cut) with costumes by Susan Scott (Reign of Fire). Music comes from Mark Thomas (Shaun the Sheep Movie).
Zoo is produced by Katy Jackson and John Leslie for Wee Buns and Jacqueline Kerrin and Dominic Wright for Ripple World Productions, with with support of the BFI, Irish Film Board, and Northern Ireland Screen.
IRISH FILM PREVIEW 2018
CinÉireann / January 2018 89
ZOO
DIR: COLIN MCIVOR
PRO: RIPPLE WORLD PICTURES
TBC