Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, this poignant dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman’s personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history.
An English teacher named Tom Michell (Steve Coogan) moves to Argentina to teach at an all-boys boarding school in 1976. At that time, Argentina was in the midst of a military coup. After a brief respite in Uruguay, he saves a penguin from an oil spill and keeps it.
At first, Tom wants nothing to do with this penguin, but it won’t stop following him, and his attempts to leave it behind are unsuccessful. He later discovers that the penguin serves as a way to keep his students engaged in his class. Tom, his students, and the school staff all come to love the penguin, named Juan Salvador.
Sofía (Alfonsina Carrocio), a maid for the school along with her grandmother, Maria (Vivian El Jaber), is the one who names the penguin. During this time of political unrest, Sofía is kidnapped by the military. And more people have mysteriously disappeared.
I know this film is based on a memoir with the same name, but I couldn’t shake off how weird I found the tone of this film to be. While this film is family-friendly, some moviegoers brought their young kids to the screening, and some (including me) were confused by the political melodrama surrounding a film centered around a penguin. Lighthearted animal antics are interwoven between discussions of dictatorship and fascism. Despite the political backdrop, though, the film is a breezy watch.
Who doesn’t love penguins? No wonder Juan Salvador could endear so many characters in the film. The film’s strongest parts involve the penguin, who becomes a pet, therapist, mascot, and friend.
Coogan is able to navigate the humorous pet antics with the darker tone of the political landscape. His character, who at first is distant and cynical, turns into someone caring and thoughtful with the help of this penguin.
Of the supporting players, you might recognize Jonathan Pryce, who played Prince Philip in later seasons of “The Crown.” He has a small part here as the school’s headmaster. I also thought Vivian El Jaber, as Maria, was quite compelling in her quest to get back her granddaughter. However, I think her storyline would have been better served in a different film that actually centered on Argentina’s political climate in the late 1970s.
Overall, “The Penguin Lessons” excels when focusing on Juan Salvador, while the political turmoil doesn’t quite hit the mark. The film knows it’s about an animal, so it shies away from going too deep into the political waters. The tone dissonance is apparent, but I still found the film enjoyable.
In Theaters Friday, March 28th
