War movie with a female hero

Nike Caro’s Zookeeper’s Wife tells a true story set in Warsaw

NEW YORK — Niki Caro has carved out an impressive career making movies about women in conflict.

The New Zealander wrote and directed 2002’s which earned newcomer Keisha CastleHughes a best actress Oscar nomination.

Three years later, Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand were honoured with Academy Award nods for their performances in Caro’s North Country.

Her latest female-power examination features Jessica Chastain as

The Holocaust story, set in 1939 Warsaw, is based on Diane Ackerman’s acclaimed non-fiction book of the same name. Caro offers her thoughts on

and some other female-driven projects during an interview at a Manhattan hotel.

On subject matter:

“I was really surprised I had not heard of this. But later after I got to know the story, I was encouraged to make a very feminine Holocaust movie because most war movies are from a male point of view.”

On hiring Chastain for the demanding lead role:

“I think she’s the first choice for everybody,. She’s a shape shifter. “It’s as though all of her roles have been played by different actresses. She has the ability to transform for each portrayal and show us a whole other side of human nature.”

On shooting the film with actors’ using a Polish-tinged English:

“It’s a convention of these kinds of movies that take place in countries with different languages.

is a perfect example of it.”

On filming in Prague which played Warsaw in the movie:

“Prague was much better for what we wanted for a period piece,” says Caro. “And it was fun to recreate a zoo in a park in the middle of Prague.”

On directing the two-hour CBC premiere of Anne (it aired March 19) based on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic novel

“It really was a wonderful experience and a very bold retelling of a popular Canadian story.”