Der Pinguin meines Lebens

8/10 STARS - The Penguin Lessons was AMC's Screen Unseen movie for March 18 and is based on a book of the same name by Tom Michell. Tom is an English teacher who takes a job at an all-boys boarding school in Argentina just as a military coup is beginning. At the start of the coup, he travels to Uruguay and comes upon a penguin that had been caught in a oil slick and washed ashore. He cleans up the penguin and then tries his hardest to get rid of it, even going so far as to throw it back in the ocean. But all to no avail. The penguin has decided that this human is its family and thus begins the sweet friendship between penguin and man. The backdrop of the story - the coup and resulting dictatorship in Argentina - adds a level of tension, but the heart of this film is about what the main character comes to understand about himself during his time with the penguin and how that journey of self-reflection helps him deal with his pain of past loss and his fear of speaking out on behalf of those in trouble. At the end of the movie, we see a short home video clip of the real penguin during its time there at the boarding school where Tom Michell taught. This is a sweet film with some underpinnings of darker themes, but nothing explicitly violent or sexual is shown. As a comedy drama, there isn't really any "action" to speak of, but that was okay because the story moved along well, the characters were interesting, and that darn penguin deserves an acting award for making me cry! It's a movie I wouldn't have gone to see on my own but I'm glad to have been able to watch it. Recommended. Short video review to come soon.

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.

My wife loves penguins. Any time there is a movie about penguins, I try to watch it with her. The fact that I ended up loving this particular movie so much was somewhat unexpected. So many things worked well. The balance of comedy and drama. The performances. The story arc. Definitely a "I laughed and I cried" sort of movie. And a quiet film overall. But I laughed harder than I thought I would, many times. Steve Coogan was perfectly cast as a cynical middle aged burned out teacher. The movie is really about him and less the penguin. It effectively does everything it means to do and I would happily see it again soon!

The talented Steve Coogan has created comedy gold with Alan Partridge that's a given and sends himself up as a person in the ever excellent The Trip, he plays true life characters that resonate with drama and incident-Tony Wilson,Martin Sixsmith, Paul Raymond and very creepy as Jimmy Saville. He takes chances and isn't afraid to go deep into the darkness. His Saville portrait was loathsome and sickening.

I have to admit he isn't very good at physical comedy here. He looks uneasy, like the penguin is upstaging him,taking the laughs.

I get his character is hiding a heavy emotional burden but I couldn't feel his character warmed to the penguin or his new lease of teaching his students using the cuteness of the bird.

On his arrival to the school he's nervous (granted) , a little off with other staff members, a little uneasy with a Finnish staff member then the next scene he's drinking and dancing in a nightclub with a young lady. His character felt a little artificial in the writing.

We felt hangdog looking Paul Giamatti may have been a better choice. Someone who can go both physically and visual comedy just as good. Although he's played a teacher a few times that he'll be typecast.

Nonetheless, this is a sweet film that looks good and has its heart on its sleeve. The scene where Coogan tells the penguin of his past grief is expertly acted. Coogan can do emotional depth very well.

Laura enjoyed it and the Penguin is lovely.

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.