While two movies, set to be released on DVD on April 3, are set worlds apart, both delve into the very human experiences of sacrifice, grief and hope. We Bought a Zoo, starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson, and War Horse, a Steven Spielberg epic based on a children’s novel and Broadway play of the same name, both show how loss and love can transform lives.
We Bought a Zoo is based on the true story of Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon), a father of two who is dealing with the recent death of his most beloved wife. Thinking that a change of pace—and place—will be good for his young daughter and rebellious son, he quits his high-flying newspaper job and buys a down-and-out zoo. Through a host of mishaps, financial strain, the death of one of the animals and family turmoil, Benjamin manages to resolve not only his own feelings of loss but heal his relationship with his son, while saving his staff’s jobs and providing the community with a wonderful resource.
While the movies deal with difficult subjects such as death and war, both navigate that terrain with sensitivity and avoid unnecessary brutality, which makes them good candidates for family movie night.
