We Bought A Zoo

Everyone has a story to tell and a 2011 comedy drama film, We Bought A Zoo directed by Cameron Crowe based on the 2008 memoir of the same name by Benjamin Mee tells a true story of himself, a single father and his family who bought and moved in an old house on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon with a dilapidated zoo in August 2006 and took on the challenge of preparing the zoo for its reopening to the public in July 2007 after a major refurbishment.

The story begins with a freelance journalist, Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) who has lost his wife and still grieving his loss. He decides to start a new life by buying a house with a zoo in the back, his seven years old daughter is delighted with the idea but his fourteen years old son is not happy about it and retreats away to his artwork which have grown more macabre since the death of his mother.

Benjamin, coping with the devastating loss of his wife while struggling to raise his children with financial problems and the staff grew skeptical in a zoo that was crumbling around them. To make things worse, the visiting of local council to inspect the park now and then and if Benjamin couldn't complete the costly renovations in twelve weeks, the animals will have to destroy.

In the film, the zoo is called Rosemoor Wildlife Park and is situated in America instead of Dartmoor Zoological Park (originally Dartmoor Wildlife Park) in the South West of England and the story also differs in that Benjamin Mee and his two children bought the zoo after the death of Benjamin's wife. The fact is they bought the zoo before Benjamin's wife, Katherine died on March 31 2007 after a short battle with an aggressive brain tumour.

Benjamin Mee (center) with his son Milo, daughter Ella, brother Duncan and mother Amelia. 

Today, the real Benjamin along with his children Milo and Ella, brother Duncan and mother Amelia still live at and run Dartmoor Zoological Park with a fantastic collection of 250 exotic animals including the widest variety of big cats in the south west of England. In 2011, Dartmoor Zoological Park is being voted as the UK's Top Wildlife Attraction with drawing in more visitors than ever.

Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, 

just literally 20 seconds of embarrassing bravery, 

and I promise you, something great will come of it. 

Movie Trailer: