In Brief: Zoo (2007) – ***1/2

I’m rarely disturbed by a movie, but Zoo, a documentary dealing with a circle of friends who have in common a sexual love for animals, found its way under my skin. The imagery is marvelous as the narration and objects on the screen comment on each other in an almost conversational manner. Thankfully, the film does not bore the audience with “talking heads.” The movie is mostly a re-enactment of events, giving more room for the director and editor to play with cinematic language in their storytelling. Zoo mainly works when it juxtaposes two sets of people who both think they’re in the right (but are on two totally different sides) and when it asks us to pick a side ourselves instead of giving us the solution. The running time is a mere 76 minutes, so there is no excuse to not see this movie… unless you’re chicken.