Jessica Chastain hopes new role inspires
Chastain adds zookeeper task to resumé of strong women’s roles
The Zookeeper’s Wife Opens Friday
Jessica Chastain is keeping it real — literally. Chastain just signed to play country singer Tammy Wynette in a biopic and recently wrapped a film profiling infamous high-stakes poker promoter Molly Bloom.
The Zookeeper’s Wife continues the trend. In the Niki Caro-directed drama, the Oscar-honoured actress portrays Antonina Zabinski, who along with her husband Jan (Johan Heldenbergh), saved 300 Jewish people by hiding them in their Warsaw zoo when the Nazis invaded Poland at the start of the Second World War.
Their attempt to harbour “the guests” becomes tricky when a Nazi zoologist (Daniel Bruhl) shows up at the zoo to send some of the animals back to Germany.
The harrowing cinematic story is based on Diane Ackerman’s acclaimed non-fiction book constructed from Antonina’s unpublished diary.
Despite the grim subject matter, Chastain was initially influenced by the positive aspects of the narrative that salutes two unsung heroes willing to sacrifice their safety for strangers.
“We see a lot of death and darkness and the worst parts of human nature when we see films about The Holocaust,” says Chastain, 40. “To tell this story is really special for me.”
For background preparation, Chastain leaned heavily on the Ackerman book for the “little gems” of information. And she met with Antonina’s daughter Teresa.
“I went to Warsaw and we met at the zoo,” Chastain says of the updated version of the one in the movie. “We had a translator. It was very emotional. Tears were shed, and I got to ask her things that weren’t in the book.”
The conversation “was very important in understanding the femininity and the softness of Antonina” in contrast to her determination, Chastain says.
The meeting also helped motivate the actress during the shoot. “I wanted to show the utmost respect for the family by trying to honour them in my portrayal of Antonina.”
And luckily for all involved, Chastain’s an animal lover. The zoo sequences (a zoo was constructed in Prague, which passes for Warsaw in the film) involved some actual critters, but it was not an issue for her.
“I actually prefer working with animals more than people,” she says. “For me, it’s like what Antonina says in the film, ‘You look into their eyes and you know exactly what’s in their heart.’ It’s such a lesson for us.”
Chastain thinks the film contains a few lessons embracing some modern themes despite its period backdrop.
“This film is about refugees, so it is very contemporary,” she says. “I’m hoping it will inspire everyone, no matter what their religious affiliation or where they come from, or what their gender, to do what they can to help others in need.”
The reference is a not-so-veiled criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump’s stricter immigration and refugee policies underscored by his proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall.
Chastain has been an outspoken critic of Trump while promoting women’s rights on her social media accounts and in her movies.
“I want women to see representations of themselves in the media as leaders, as courageous, as fighters, and who are intelligent, ambitious and loving,” Chastain says.
“I think that we’ve ignored women in history that have created a path that we walk on now.”
Meanwhile, Chastain recently turned 40. Was it a big deal for her?
“When we’re talking about the (film) industry, and when we’re talking about women in society,” she says, “what is unhelpful is when the media makes age a milestone for women and they don’t for men.”