Elephant from "Zoo Story"

(1957)

Genres: Drama

Year: 1957

Runtime: 67 мин

Country: Japan

Director: 山本嘉次郎

Cast: 榎本健一, Кейдзю Кобаяси, 河内桃子, Кёко Андзаи, 小杉義男, 堺 左千夫, 生方壮児, Норико Хомма, Okayu Taka, 瀬良明

Plot

The fifth film in the Toho Diamond series, following "The Hateful Thing." Based on the true story of "Zoo Story" by author Fukuda Saburo. During the Tokyo air raids of World War II, Zen-san, an elephant keeper at Ueno Zoo, is faced with the heartbreaking task of euthanizing Tonki, a beloved elephant, due to food shortages and wartime pressures. Unable to carry out the order, Zen-san secretly feeds Tonki, but the elephant is ultimately shot by the military police. The film poignantly captures Zen-san’s despair and the devastation of war, as he reflects on his powerlessness amid the chaos.