The Penguin Lessons is based on the Tom Michell novel, which was based on his experiences in 1976 Argentina.
The military is in the process of removing the elected government and taking power. Tom (Steve Coogan) arrives to teach English at St. Georges College. He exudes an attitude of wanting to slide through without actually taking a stand.
His students are typical teenage boys, cutting up and paying as little as possible to the instructor. His attention to his assistant rugby coach position is lackadaisical. Of course, as he tells the headmaster (Jonathan Pryce), “he likes his balls round.”
Things don’t move slowly as he idles through his job. That is until he takes a few days to travel to Uraguay to satisfy his desire to have some fun as Argentina settles down from the change of government (aka the coup). And then he and his new lady friend save a penguin from an oil spill. His life turns upside down as his view of the world around him (and within him) changes.
I fell in love with the penguin, Juan Salvador. He is the glue and the catalyst that binds and ties this story into an enjoyable tale of awakening to the realities of the world and your place in it.
The story has ups and downs emotionally giving it a depth I didn’t expect to experience. You will enjoy this well-made look at a time filled with more fear than joy.
Director: Peter Cattaneo
Cast: Steve Coogan, Vivian El Jaber, Bjorn Gustafsson, Alfonsina Carrocio, David Herrero, Jonathan Pryce
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for strong language, some sexual references, and thematic elements)
Selig Rating: 4.5 Stars
Runtime: 110 Min.
Release Date: 03/28/2025
Language: English
Genre: Drama
Trailer: THE PENGUIN LESSONS Official Trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
4 Stars – Good movie
3 Stars – OK movie
2 Stars – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
1 Star – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn’t paid for it.
