The film is about Tom Michel, an Englishman who is hired to teach English to children in Argentina. He finds himself forced to adopt a penguin he found washed up in an oil-slicked beach, which changes his life for the better.
The film is about hope and communication. It explores that when we really listen and feel for one another, we become better human beings.
The blend of humour and drama is effortless, which I imagine must have been difficult, since the backdrop of the film is the start of the dictatorship in Argentina in 1976, which shatters the lives of many of the characters.
Steve Coogan plays Tom Michel brilliantly. He has the right mixture of dry humour, cynicism, warmth and idealism, which brings his role to life.
What appealed to me the most is Tom’s lack of courage and apathy towards what’s happening to people under dictatorship in Argentina, and how the film gradually shows him becoming more and more empathetic and compassionate towards others.
Anyone who has seen a lot of movies will be able to easily predict where this film is going, as it fits the often used formula of a cynical person who meets someone (in this case a penguin) and from meeting that certain someone, they are transformed. With that being said, the film does something unique with that structure, which is emotionally engaging, humorous and teaches a great lesson about the power of communication, doing the right thing and having hope in life.
- Rated: PG-13
- Genre: Drama
- Release Date: 9/9/2024
- Directed by: Peter Cattaneo
- Starring: Alfonsina Carrocio, Björn Gustafsson, David Herrero, Jonathan Pryce, Micaela Breque, Steve Coogan, Vivian El Jaber
- Produced by: Ben Pugh, Robert Walak, Rory Aitken
- Written by: Jeff Pope
- Studio: 42, Nostromo Pictures
