Young Tom and his misfit friends fight to save 'Buster' the baby elephant during the German air raid bombings of Belfast in 1941.
Acting
Toby Jones as a grumpy zoo guard with hidden softness
Production
Belfast 1941 recreated with grit and surprising warmth
Practical Effects
Baby elephant puppet that'll destroy your cynicism
Director
Colin McIvor
Art Parkinson
Tom Hall
Emily Flain
Jane Berry
Toby Jones
Security Guard Charlie
Ian O'Reilly
Pete
Ian McElhinney
Mr. Shawcross
Penelope Wilton
Denise Austin
James Stockdale
Mickey
Damian O'Hare
George Hall
Amy Huberman
Emily Hall
Stephen Hagan
Jake
Lalor Roddy
Curfew Man 1
Frank Cannon
Zookeeper
Michael Stuart
Poacher
Maggie Cronin
Matron
Donncha Crowley
Headmaster Smyth
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Denise Austin, a real zookeeper who slept with Sheila the elephant during Belfast Blitz. The 'elephant angel' became local legend.
The baby elephant was a fully animatronic creation taking six puppeteers—director McIvor refused CGI to capture the tactile chaos of real animal wrangling.
IE
US
