It’s been a few decades since last we saw Jean Reno playing a withdrawn curmudgeon protecting a pint-sized charge in “The Professional.” Now, with director David Schurmann’s “My Penguin Friend,” it’s a welcome return to a winning formula.
In the Brazilian filmmaker’s tender-hearted, all-ages adventure, Reno plays a grief-stricken father who gains a small, sweet companion after rescuing him from polluted waters. Inspired by the unshakeable bond between a real-life Brazilian fisherman and a Magellanic penguin thrown off his migration route, the French actor reveals new colors as a performer, shading the picture’s playful and poignant overtones with sensitivity and subtlety, making this a must-see for those who love uplifting stories about redemption, perseverance and empathy.
Reno plays João, whose journey began long before his penguin pal’s arrival, when his cozy, beachside home in Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, was filled with love, music and laughter.
In the Brazilian filmmaker’s tender-hearted, all-ages adventure, Reno plays a grief-stricken father who gains a small, sweet companion after rescuing him from polluted waters. Inspired by the unshakeable bond between a real-life Brazilian fisherman and a Magellanic penguin thrown off his migration route, the French actor reveals new colors as a performer, shading the picture’s playful and poignant overtones with sensitivity and subtlety, making this a must-see for those who love uplifting stories about redemption, perseverance and empathy.
Reno plays João, whose journey began long before his penguin pal’s arrival, when his cozy, beachside home in Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, was filled with love, music and laughter.
- 8/16/2024
- by Courtney Howard
- Variety Film + TV
“My Penguin Friend” is a new family feature, inspired by a true story, directed by David Schurman, starring Jean Reno, Adriana Barraza, Rocío Hernández, Nicolás Francella, Alexia Moyano and Thalma de Freitas, opening August 16, 2024 in theaters:
“…in a sweeping family adventure, ‘My Penguin Friend’ is a triumphant tale of friendship between a lonely father and a little lost penguin who recharges his spirit and heals his family with an unshakable, ocean-crossing loyalty.
“Humble fisherman ‘João’ has turned away from the world in the wake of tragedy. But when he discovers a penguin drifting alone in the ocean, drenched in oil from a spill, his first instinct is to help.
“To his wife’s dismay, he not only rescues the sea creature, but takes the flightless bird under his wing. For the first time in years João starts to feel joy, even if he cannot fathom just how unbreakable a bond is being formed.
“…in a sweeping family adventure, ‘My Penguin Friend’ is a triumphant tale of friendship between a lonely father and a little lost penguin who recharges his spirit and heals his family with an unshakable, ocean-crossing loyalty.
“Humble fisherman ‘João’ has turned away from the world in the wake of tragedy. But when he discovers a penguin drifting alone in the ocean, drenched in oil from a spill, his first instinct is to help.
“To his wife’s dismay, he not only rescues the sea creature, but takes the flightless bird under his wing. For the first time in years João starts to feel joy, even if he cannot fathom just how unbreakable a bond is being formed.
- 5/18/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
"You and DinDim have quite a friendship." Roadside Attractions has revealed a trailer for an adorable true story of a penguin and a fisherman. My Penguin Friend is directed by the Brazilian filmmaker David Schurmann, and it tells the story of a Brazilian fisherman who rescued a penguin and their bond. Starring French actor Jean Reno in the lead role as Joao. A heartbroken fisherman finds a penguin drifting alone in the ocean, drenched in oil from a spill. He not only rescues the sea creature, which migrates hundreds of miles ever year, but takes it under his wing – finding a sense of joy for the first time in years. The penguin and the fisherman become unlikely friends, so bonded that even the vast ocean cannot divide them. The cast also includes Adriana Barraza, Rocío Hernández, Nicolás Francella, Alexia Moyano, Thalma de Freitas, with Pedro Caetano and Pedro Urizzi. This...
- 5/17/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Roadside Attractions has acquired U.S. distribution rights from City Hill Arts to the family adventure, The Penguin & The Fisherman, inspired by the incredible true story and viral sensation of João Perei de Souza (Jeno Reno) and a lost penguin who, after being rescued from an oil spill, transforms the life and soul of a heartbroken fisherman. Also starring Babel‘s Adriana Barraza, the film is set for a late summer/early fall wide release.
Lionsgate is aboard for Home Entertainment, with Fortitude International handling foreign sales.
When The Penguin & The Fisherman begins, De Souza has turned away from the world in the wake of tragedy. But when he discovers a penguin drifting alone in the ocean, drenched in oil from a spill, his first instinct is to help. To the dismay of his wife (Barraza) dismay, he not only rescues the sea creature, but takes the flightless bird under his wing.
Lionsgate is aboard for Home Entertainment, with Fortitude International handling foreign sales.
When The Penguin & The Fisherman begins, De Souza has turned away from the world in the wake of tragedy. But when he discovers a penguin drifting alone in the ocean, drenched in oil from a spill, his first instinct is to help. To the dismay of his wife (Barraza) dismay, he not only rescues the sea creature, but takes the flightless bird under his wing.
- 2/16/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Biotech entrepreneur Jonathan Lim’s recently launched production and financing entity City Hill Arts has unveiled the first still from The Penguin & The Fisherman — one of its first feature projects, starring 3x César Award nominee Jean Reno (Léon: The Professional), which has now wrapped production.
The film currently in post in Madrid is based on an incredible true story which went viral in 2016 — that of the lost and injured penguin, Din Dim, who finds love and family in another lost and wounded soul, João (Reno).
Related Story ‘Coup!’: Peter Sarsgaard Satire Wraps Production, Film Constellation Shares First Look — EFM Related Story Biotech Entrepreneur Jonathan Lim Launches City Hill Arts; Unveils Slate Of Projects With Stampede Ventures & More Related Story Jean Reno Joins 'Stranger Things' Star Noah Schnapp And Anjelica Huston In 'Waiting For Anya'
João is a Brazilian fisherman, guilt-ridden from a horrible tragedy which occurred as a young man,...
The film currently in post in Madrid is based on an incredible true story which went viral in 2016 — that of the lost and injured penguin, Din Dim, who finds love and family in another lost and wounded soul, João (Reno).
Related Story ‘Coup!’: Peter Sarsgaard Satire Wraps Production, Film Constellation Shares First Look — EFM Related Story Biotech Entrepreneur Jonathan Lim Launches City Hill Arts; Unveils Slate Of Projects With Stampede Ventures & More Related Story Jean Reno Joins 'Stranger Things' Star Noah Schnapp And Anjelica Huston In 'Waiting For Anya'
João is a Brazilian fisherman, guilt-ridden from a horrible tragedy which occurred as a young man,...
- 2/22/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Argentinian crime thriller A Singular Crime (Un Crimen Argentino), directed by Lucas Combina, has landed a series of international distribution deals on the third day of the EFM.
The pic was given a local theatrical release by Warner Bros. last year and was brought to the market by FilmSharks. We understand that Koba films have taken all rights for France and French-speaking Europe, IV productions for Russia/Cis, AMC took all digital TV/SVOD rights for East Europe, and Spafax for inflight-Airline rights.
Deals for Korea, Japan, Australia, and Germany are said to be in discussion, with a US deal in motion.
Based on the best-selling novel by Reynaldo Sietecase, published by Penguin Random House, the film follows two jurists who try to solve the case of a wealthy businessman’s disappearance while facing the interference of a police officer.
The film stars Nicolas Francella, Darío Grandinetti, Matias Mayer (Iosi: El Espía Arrepentido), and Luis Luque.
Producers include Juan Pablo Buscarini, Pol Bossi-Cabe Bossi, Tomás Yankelevich, Peter Bevan, and Mariana Sanjurjo. Writers are Jorge Bechara, Matías Bertilotti, and Sebastián Pivotto.
The pic was given a local theatrical release by Warner Bros. last year and was brought to the market by FilmSharks. We understand that Koba films have taken all rights for France and French-speaking Europe, IV productions for Russia/Cis, AMC took all digital TV/SVOD rights for East Europe, and Spafax for inflight-Airline rights.
Deals for Korea, Japan, Australia, and Germany are said to be in discussion, with a US deal in motion.
Based on the best-selling novel by Reynaldo Sietecase, published by Penguin Random House, the film follows two jurists who try to solve the case of a wealthy businessman’s disappearance while facing the interference of a police officer.
The film stars Nicolas Francella, Darío Grandinetti, Matias Mayer (Iosi: El Espía Arrepentido), and Luis Luque.
Producers include Juan Pablo Buscarini, Pol Bossi-Cabe Bossi, Tomás Yankelevich, Peter Bevan, and Mariana Sanjurjo. Writers are Jorge Bechara, Matías Bertilotti, and Sebastián Pivotto.
- 2/18/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: FilmSharks has picked up world sales rights, excluding Latin America, to the crime thriller A Singular Crime (Un Crimen Argentino), directed by Lucas Combina.
Based on the best-selling novel by Reynaldo Sietecase, the film follows two jurists who will try to solve the case of a wealthy businessman’s disappearance while facing the interference of a police officer. The film was given a local theatrical release by Warner Bros. Pictures earlier this month and will be available exclusively on HBO Max across Latin America.
“We are happy to be chosen by these recognized companies to take care of their international sales,” Guido Rud of FilmSharks said. “We are one of the few Word Sales agencies that have agreements in place to rep their local language films, including Warner; Sony; Disney; Televisa-Videocine; Fox; Antena3; Banijay; Globo; ITV among other players.
The film is produced by Juan Pablo Buscarini, Pol Bossi-Cabe Bossi,...
Based on the best-selling novel by Reynaldo Sietecase, the film follows two jurists who will try to solve the case of a wealthy businessman’s disappearance while facing the interference of a police officer. The film was given a local theatrical release by Warner Bros. Pictures earlier this month and will be available exclusively on HBO Max across Latin America.
“We are happy to be chosen by these recognized companies to take care of their international sales,” Guido Rud of FilmSharks said. “We are one of the few Word Sales agencies that have agreements in place to rep their local language films, including Warner; Sony; Disney; Televisa-Videocine; Fox; Antena3; Banijay; Globo; ITV among other players.
The film is produced by Juan Pablo Buscarini, Pol Bossi-Cabe Bossi,...
- 10/4/2022
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
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