Jeri Jacquin
Coming to theatres from director Peter Cattaneo from the true story novel of the same name by Tom Michell and Sony Picture Classics comes a story of a friend and THE PENGUIN LESSONS.
Taking a teaching job at Buenos Aires in 1976, slightly disgruntled-about-life Englishman Tom Michell (Steve Coogan) arrives at the all-boys St. George’s College. He is immediately greeted by the political upheaval in the country. Headmaster Buckle (Jonathan Pryce) makes it clear that the scores for the boys in his class are low and they must be brought up. From day one in the classroom, Michell sees the boys have no desire to listen or learn but his apathetic attitude just goes along to get along.
An unexpected creature comes into his life in the form of an oil-soaked penguin. Getting him cleaned up, Michell soon discovers that finding a penguin is one thing, trying to get it to leave is another. Sneaking it back to his teacher’s dorm, Michell immediately tries to find someone else to take him but sets up house with his new roommate. Trying to hide a penguin proves to also be interesting but housekeepers Sofia (Alfonsina Carrocio) and her grandmother Maria (Vivian El Jaber) are let in on the secret and Juan Salvador (Juan Salvador Gaviota is Spanish for Jonathan Livingston Seagull) is named and instantly loved.
Inviting the women to lunch, Michell learns more about the struggle the people of Buenos Aires are facing and it is Sofia who is vocal about it all much to his delight. The authorities taking people off the streets never to be seen again makes Michell uncomfortable. Back in class, he is once again met by students who seem to have no use for education with the exception of the young bullied boy Diego (David Herrero). Michell decides that Juan Salvador might help in this regard and – it works. The students begin to finally hear their teacher but also, a change happens in Michell.
Juan Salvador becomes a quiet fixture to students and staff and enjoys their company and feeding time as Michell realizes that being with the school is everything. When frightening events happen with Sofia, as well as Michell, he discovers that he truly had become someone that needed to stand up for his students, people he cares about and even a black and white penguin that has become the biggest teacher of all.
Coogan as Michell gives us the character of a man who just seems to have given up being anything other than a being in survival mode. Seeing this teaching position as a way of earning a paycheck and little else, the universe has a big surprise for him. Oh sure, he fights it and he tries to make it go away, but a little penguin has other plans. Coogan is so good at being indifferent that when his frailties come forward and his story is told, it begins to make sense. What a wonderful role and beautifully done.
Carrocio as Sophia is a young woman who believes in her country and shares her feelings with Michelle. He instantly knows that she is someone special and besides, Juan Salvador kind of likes her. Carrocio gives us a peek into her character and my only wish is that she shared the screen more. El Jaber as Maria is a loving grandmother who wants what’s best for her generational family. She instantly takes to Juan Salvador and wants what is best for him and that’s not a cage. When her family struggles, El Jaber shows us a woman who came from strong people and will do whatever is necessary to keep her family intact. Absolutely amazing!
Pryce as Headmaster Buckle is firm in what he expects from Michell and keeps an eye on him. When he discovers Juan Salvador, his barking orders are quickly turned with a single conversation. I have to say, I absolutely adore Pryce and everything he has done so even this small role I am here for. Herrero as Diego is a young man who feels out of place among his classmates and, oddly enough, it is Michell who understands the young man. Herrero is just a dear and there is a moment that he gave his character a grace that just made me tear up, you will see.
Shout out to Bjorn Gustafsson as Tapio, another teacher in the school who also has a chance to be won over by Juan Salvador’s fishy charms!
Other cast include Julia Fossi as Anna, Hugo Fuertes as Ramiro, Miguel Serrano as Walter, Aimar Miranda as Ernesto, Nicanor Montechiarini as Igor and Florencia Nocetti as Nora.
Sony Pictures Classics brings television, digital content, new entertainment services, independent films and technologies to viewers. Such films as GREED, THE BURNT ORANGE HERESY, THE CLIMB, CHARM CITY KINGS, I CARRY YOU WITH ME and THE FATHER are just a few of the current and upcoming releases. For more information on what Sony Pictures Classics has to offer please visit www.sonyclassics.com.
THE PENGUIN LESSONS is an absolutely lovely film that is a mixture of a schoolteachers awakening, a country’s madness, a school’s bit of apathy and a penguin that finds more to his own life. That would seem like a lot but, in this case, it works brilliantly. You cannot remove one of these scenarios without the story caving in on itself and the fact that it is a true story is even more emotionally intense.
To be honest, I do enjoy films where animals take the front stage to show humans that we are more capable than we realize. Yes, this is a penguin who doesn’t have a lot to say but in that lies the truth that we hold the keys to our own jails. Recognizing his own frailties, Coogan’s Michelle is sarcastic, confrontational, avoids almost everything having to do with his emotions and has a history he refuses to acknowledge. We should all be so graced with an unexpected penguin to snap us back into the real world.
Working with a beautiful creature, director Cattaneo says, “Juan Salvador is a small Magellanic penguin. Like all our favorite pets, his charm comes partly from his imperfections. He can be stubborn, he’s quite scruffy and stinks of fish. Working to capture him on camera called for an unorthodox, naturalistic approach. I encouraged the cast and crew to stay patient and reactive, embracing the unexpected from the penguin. This way, I found the door was opened to unscripted magic. His little moments of spontaneity brought joy to the case and crew alike and resulted in some of my favorite scenes in the film”.
In the end – life can change when an enlightened being arrives!
