The Penguin Lessons

Director: Peter Cattaneo

This film is inspired by Tom Michell’s novel, The Penguin Lessons, telling the story of his time spent as an English teacher at an exclusive school in Argentina. Set in 1976 Michell (Steve Coogan) joins the school at the start of a military coup. After a few days in Uruguay, he finds himself returning to the school with a new friend, a penguin. The penguin soon becomes a key part of school life, helping Michell to inspire his students, a confidant to other staff members and helps Michell breakdown barriers and make friends. But life changes when the military police begin taking people from the streets and when this strikes close to home, Michell and his penguin become an inspiration to make a difference.

This is a film that is set against Argentina’s military dictatorship and the 30,000 people who “disappeared” under their control. But if you are looking for a gritty tense exploration of the Argentinian junta, this is not that film, rather, this is a gentle tale that focuses on transformation and inspiration, rather than the terrifying reality of a military dictatorship.

Coogan plays a role you’ve seen him in before, the world weary, cynic who carries the weight of his own tragedy and does it with warmth and wit. He’s well supported, Björn Gustafsson as a fellow teacher, Jonathan Pryce as the school headmaster, Vivian El Jaber, as school cleaner and grandmother and of course the Penguin(s) who brings quite the personality to the role!

The Penguin Lessons, while set against the horrors of dictatorship and Argentina’s disappeared, tells a warm and inspirational story about hope and overcoming tragedy. Steve Coogan alongside his Penguin co-star both deliver plenty of heart and warmth to the story.  It’s no gritty look at the horrors of a military dictatorship, but it is a charming, inspirational story. Plus, it does have a Penguin!