The Penguin Lessons

A distraught and antisocial teacher works his way down South America to Argentina. While the country is experiencing civil unrest, he takes an opportunity to go out and have fun. What was supposed to be a getaway ends up with him forced to keep a penguin. Little did he know that this penguin would change not only his life but the lives of everyone around him.

This movie adaptation of a memoir is inspired by actual events. The story is simple: Some friends come into our lives for just a season but leave a lasting impact. The movie has emotion, drama, comedy, and a penguin. Despite having a penguin, there is language and topics unsuitable for children. The one-hour and fifty-minute run time waddles by quickly. It is an entertaining watch for families with older children.

I will do my best to do this without spoilers, as it has not yet (I don't think) been released in the US. I saw this as a "sneak preview", so that is my assumption.

Had this not been a "blind" preview at my local theater (I have a movie subscription, so i see all my movies for "free") i would never have selected this movie for my watch list. But I'm glad i got to see it. (the chatter i heard from fellow viewers was the same - wouldn't have selected it, but glad I came).

The movie is set in 1976 Argentina, coinciding with the military coup that brought down Isabel Peron and began the plight of the "disappeared". While this is important in the events of the story, it is also peripheral.

The film is filled with closed off, broken people who are simply trying to live out their lives. Each of these people is changed by the penguin who unexpectedly comes into their lives. No, the penguin doesn't just fly in like an avian Mary Poppins. But is rescued by one of the characters who, through a series of misfortunes and miscalculations, ultimately adopts him.

The performances are mostly quiet, but not muted, and very good. Jonathan price settles into his role as the stodgy headmaster, not wanting to cause trouble or make waves, with the same intensity as his deceitful author/husband in "The Wife". Coogan is always good, charming in his discomfort with the world he travels through. But the penguin steals every scene he is in.

There are messages of standing for one's belief, the strength of faith, and shows how heartbreak can be uplifting, and tragedy can initiate joy.

No, this is not a movie that I would have gone to see (and i see everything) as the premise seems silly and slight on paper. But this was a worthwhile two hours. And while i left the theater in tears, i also somehow felt better about the world.

Having been a teacher of English language in a foreign country, I identified strongly with the protagonist, which may have colored my opinion of this film. That said, I found THE PENGUIN LESSONS an intelligent and charming film that accurately captured the experience of teaching a class of unruly and highly opinionated teenage boys of the privileged class. But this is not GOODBYE MISTER CHIPS. The story isn't really about the classroom, but about a man living a rootless expatriate life during his early middle age. He has no Significant Other and no real friends. His co-workers are other foreigners who are also escaping an unsatisfactory past. Shortly after his arrival in Argentina (which is undergoing a lot of political turmoil), he and a Finnish co-worker (who teaches history at the same school) take a night out in nearby Uruguay seeking drinks and female companionship. He meets an attractive woman near his own age. They take a quiet moonlit walk on the beach when they come upon a nasty oil slick which has left several dead penguins in its wake. One of the penguins is still alive and the woman insists that they try to help it. In order to impress her (and hopefully get her into bed), they take the penguin to his room and try clean it up. Its condition has already improved. The man and woman share a kiss and then she tells him that she's sorry but she can't go through with it. When he wants to know why, she confesses that she's married. She thought she could have an extramarital affair, but she simply can't go through with it. She leaves and he takes the penguin back to the beach. The penguin, however, will not leave him and refuses to go back into the sea even after he throws it back into the water. It's against the rules to have pets, but after the Uruguayan authorities will not keep the penguin, he reluctantly takes it back to Argentina and smuggles it into his room. The penguin then becomes an important part of his life when he befriends the cleaning lady and her political activist granddaughter (who have fallen in love with the penguin). The authorities snatch her granddaughter off the street and take her away. It happens all the time there and the kidnapped are usually never seen again. He wants to help, but he is afraid. And that is the basic situation. Although the movie is a comedy, there is a basic melancholy undertone. I found it consistently interesting and engrossing with lots to think about. Its comedy is gentle and more ironic than slapstick. The director is Peter Cattaneo, who previously directed the surprise hit, THE FULL MONTY. The cast are all top-notch, with Steve Coogan giving a beautifully underplayed performance as the teacher. Although the penguin is cute, I don't think that this is a movie for kids. I think teachers will love it, though.

The film told a very interesting story of life in Argentina after the coup in 1976. Many issues were covered in the film and we thought the film was fantastic. The whole cast was wonderful and we thought many of the supporting actors had especially strong roles - brilliantly peformed. As the main character, Steve Coogan was extremely funny, and sensitively played a cynical and jaded teacher. Coogan thoroughly deserved his Oscar nomination. Also, if there were Oscars for animals in films the penguin should won one. The film itself felt quite light-hearted and playful in overall tone but did a really good job portraying a very powerful story, worthy of Oscar nominations itself.

Based on True Story. Argentina in 1976 Realise date 17th April uK 27th April 2025

A beautiful lightly sugar coat film, based on the true story of an English teacher who travels to teach English South America, in his quest to escape from the heartbreak from his past.

His arrival at the upper class school, is immediately stained, with a metaphor of paint splattered on his new shoes, delivered from a paint brush that is being used to cover up a slogan of 'the people, against a fascist regime.' It's here, in the beautiful school setting that the darker content is pealed away, He inadvertently hears a conversation of two workers discussing the dangers of political dictatorship.

However, in his quest to procrastinate, he decides to travel a short distance in search of a night of fun and lust . But inadvertently ends up rescuing a penguin, who is destined to stay with him.

But who knew a penguin could bring such love and revival of spirit to our jaded teacher.

It is also, through his teaching of poetry, that brings a rebirth of his youthful idealism of morals. However, it's the Penguin that forges a unique bond between teacher, pupils, and the community.

It's is at this point that we glimpse into the dark undercurrent of political surveillance, as lurks in every shadow, waiting to pounce on any slightly radical who passes by. Never to be seen again.

In this case, it's the slightly radical young person who works at the school.

Ultimately,i t's the penguin who takes the lead in breaking down barriers.

In this heartbreaking moment, there is a shated knowledge of how it is to be defenless, As in Pandora s box, there is always hope.

It's a reminder of strength of belief and the importance of community. Also, nature is the fascinating factor that bonds us.