The Penguin Lessons

Rating 7/10

Framing a tale of personal redemption during political unrest has often been fertile ground for compelling cinema. The Year of Living Dangerously and The Last King of Scotland are great examples. The Penguin Lessons is working within a similar realm but with a far more frivolous tone. Tom Michell (Steve Coogan) is an English teacher who arrives in Buenos Aires during the tumultuous period of Argentina’s 1976 military coup. He’s hired at a prestigious boarding school for boys through a loose connection to the headmaster (Jonathan Pryce). Michell goes through the motions at work, but his heart isn’t in it. When the coup forces students to leave, Michell and a colleague (Lars Björn Gustafsson) seize the opportunity for a brief vacation in Uruguay.

During a morning walk on the beach, Michell and a female acquaintance (Micaela Breque) make a shocking discovery. The shoreline is covered in oil and dead penguins. Among them is one survivor. Though he doesn’t want to get involved, the woman persuades him to help. They clean the bird in their hotel, but the woman soon departs, leaving Michell alone with his flightless guest. Despite attempts to release the rescued seabird back into the wild, it refuses to leave his side. Facing a choice, he decides to smuggle the penguin back to Argentina and into the school despite a strict no-pets policy.

His feathered companion is later named Juan Salvador—a nod to Juan Salvador Gaviota (the Spanish title of Jonathan Livingston Seagull)—and becomes more than just a pet. He’s a source of comedic relief and an inspiration for change. Michell’s efforts to hide his unlikely roommate (often in a tote bag), lead to humorous episodes. Directed by Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) and adapted by Jeff Pope (Philomena, Stan & Ollie) from Tom Michell’s 2016 memoir, the saga mixes comedy with historical drama.

Juan Salvador eventually becomes a cherished part of the school community, adding levity amidst a tense political climate. As Michell grows closer to Sofia (Alfonsina Carrocio) and her grandmother Maria (Vivian El Jaber), two staff members who resist the dictatorship, he is drawn deeper into a harsh reality. When Sofia disappears, Michell can no longer ignore the dangers surrounding him. Her fate forces him to reckon with the brutality of the regime.

The developments vacillate between lighthearted sequences with the penguin and heavier moments rooted in Argentina’s Dirty War. At times, these tonal shifts are awkward, but there is a sincerity to them. Actor Steve Coogan brings depth and subtlety to the role, grounding the picture with his understated performance. Juan Salvador, meanwhile, is amusing and a symbolic catalyst for change.

Ultimately, this account is about one man’s reluctant transformation. Through his bond with a penguin and growing awareness of the world around him, Michell is nudged toward empathy and responsibility. The film may not always strike the perfect balance, but it’s a thoughtful exploration of personal growth against a backdrop of national upheaval.

04-01-25