Zoo

This cockle-warming tale of plucky youngsters rescuing an elephant from Belfast Zoo takes a few liberties with the true story on which it is based, but that's forgivable given the entertaining results. In 1941, with German bombs falling on the city, the authorities decide to shoot the animals to prevent them from running wild in the city should the zoo take a direct hit. Appalled local animal lovers spring into action to rescue an imperilled pachyderm, the zoo's latest acquisition, with awkward teenager Tom (Art Parkinson) leading the gaggle of youths who hide the beast in the house of local eccentric Denise Austin. Although the film boasts an impressive cast of adults (Toby Jones, Game of Thrones's Ian McElhinney, and Penelope Wilton as Austin), this is really all about the kids. In reality, it was Austin who masterminded the elephant rescue, but writer/director Colin McIvor has great fun channelling her story through his young cast. In return, they bring bags of energy to what is essentially a rollicking Famous Five-style adventure.