<P> The Zookeeper's Wife is based on Diane Ackerman's non-fiction book of the same name, which relied heavily on the diaries of Antonina Żabińska, published in Poland as Ludzie i zwierzęta (translated as: People and Animals) (1968). In key aspects of historical context, the screenplay follows the story of Antonina and her husband, Jan, closely . Both worked at the Warsaw Zoo . Antonina helped her husband who was the director of the zoo . Animals were part of their family's life, and the devastation that resulted from the attack on Warsaw and the subsequent pillaging of the zoo is well documented . The actions of Lutz Heck and his animal breeding experiments were also a matter of historical record, although the intimate relationship of the protagonist, Antonina and the antagonist, Heck, is exaggerated . However, the defiance of Nazi occupation and ultimately, the rescue of over 300 Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto were depicted accurately . The contributions and participation of the Żabinski children, Ryszard and Teresa (credited as Theresa in the film) were also notable . </P> <P> In September 2010, it was announced that Angela Workman was adapting Diane Ackerman's non-fiction book, The Zookeeper's Wife . On April 30, 2013, Jessica Chastain was attached to play the titular role as Antonina Żabińska, while Niki Caro signed on to direct the film . On August 24, 2015, Focus Features acquired the US rights to the film, and Daniel Brühl and Johan Heldenbergh signed on to star in it . </P> <P> Filming began with the animals on September 9, 2015, and principal photography with the actors began on September 29, 2015, in Prague, Czech Republic . Suzie Davies served as the production designer, Andrij Parekh as the director of photography, and Bina Daigeler as the costume designer . Filming ended on November 29, 2015 . </P> <P> The Zookeeper's Wife had its world premiere on March 8, 2017 in Warsaw, Poland, and its US premiere at the Cinequest Film Festival on March 12, 2017 . The film was released in the United States on March 31, 2017 and was released in the United Kingdom on April 21, 2017 . It premiered in Spain at the Barcelona - Sant Jordi International Film Festival on April 22, 2017 . It also premiered in France at the 43rd Deauville Film Festival on September 7, 2017 . </P>

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