One day they are still the attraction of the zoo, the next day they end up as food for other zoo animals. What is everyday life in many zoos around the world is incomprehensible for many zoo visitors. That's why zoos don't like to talk about it. German filmmakers have now, for the first time, succeeded in persuading two zoos to deal openly with this difficult subject. Never-before-seen glimpses of everyday zoo life that isn't always peaceful. The film poses the provocative question of whether it might not make sense for zoo animals to become food animals. The answers are surprising and perhaps even frightening for many Zoo fans.
Producer(s): Christine Seidemann
Director: Andreas Ewels
Editor: Stefan Bohmhof
Cinematography: Nick Burton Moore
Andreas Ewels (born in 1969) is an internationally renowned filmmaker and writer who has focused on environmental and nature film documentaries. He has received many international awards for this. In his private life, too, he is committed to environmental protection and nature conservation. He lives in Wiesbaden (Germany) and produces most of his films for the largest German broadcaster ZDF.
Director’s statement
This is an extremely sensitive issue, which will particularly shock visitors to zoos. I admire the courage and openness of our protagonists to go in front of our camera. The author and I have therefore paid particular attention to treating everyone involved fairly. Since the zoos are also satisfied with the result, we must have succeeded. Now we hope that as many festivals as possible dare to show this unpleasant and difficult topic in their festival programs.