Zoo Lock Down

The pandemic brought society to a standstill, but from an animal’s perspective the world didn't change that much. Unless, of course, you live in a zoo. Director Andreas Horvath takes us on a visit to the zoo in Salzburg, where the first lockdown brought with it a strange silence. The life of the zoo’s animal inhabitants goes on even without public visitors – only, instead of excited children, the shrieks come from lemurs and flamingos. And away from the madding crowd, one can moreover come across phenomena that are otherwise hidden away. These microstories from the pavilions, enclosures, and terraria reflect Horvath’s typical sense of humor characterized by surprising edits, a playful sound design, and a score that is at times whimsical, at other times unsettling. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)