Penguin Bloom

"It's like Mum was stolen from us." Noah (Griffin Murray-Johnston)

Shamelessly sentimental, yes; simply striking, yes. After the confining tyranny of a pandemic, it's time to be freed by a true story, Penguin Bloom, of loss and redemption that may bring tears (ok, it will) of joy at recognizing heroic humans just like us living through even worse than a raging COVID and past president. Narrated by tween Noah, Penguin Bloom makes you face the reality of loss while it frees you up to soar like a bird when you embrace humanity once again.

Dispel your fears about Nicolas Sparks or Hallmark sentimentality, for this Australian drama is about a mother, Sam Bloom (Naomi Watts), who breaks her back and the hearts of a loving family, only to be redeemed by a kayak and squawking Magpie (Gerry, Clipper, and Eugene). It hits hard about the sacrifices everyone suffers after such a tragedy and the joys of beating back the gloom with the emergence of a life maybe even better.

Penguin Bloom, aka Peng, a Magpie of exceptional wit (an Oscar for this bird, anyone?), finds a home with the Blooms for as long as nature will allow. My English major readers will spy immediately the metaphoric nature of Peng paralleling Sam's imprisonment and release. Peng's constant complaints (she is a Magpie after all) echo Sam's despair over her loss of freedom while both, with each other's help, live to fly another day. The move from inside the house early on to the gorgeous Australian outside is an obvious reflection of bird and mom taking flight. Cliché, yes, maudlin, no.

Director Glendyn Ivin carefully keeps our tears back while he accurately shows the struggles and triumphs of living with a disability. Along the way husband Cameron (Andrew Lincoln) earns major stripes as caregiver and super dad. Again, the feel is real; no one could doubt his love for his family and his willingness to give up his freedom for theirs. Everybody wins.

I feel the critics are far off the bat with this one. Perhaps they have not been invested in this magical experience like those of us who have grown watching this story.

I've been following Penguin Bloom on Instagram for years now, since Penguin was still with the Bloom family.

This film captures this family's story well. Ignore the critics and those without the context.

A beautiful film.

An enjoyable little film based on a true story, don't know what the bad reviewers were expecting? It's not an action film, just a heartwarming little story of how a rescued magpie helps a family come to terms with the devastating accident suffered by the Mother, and in turn helps her to begin enjoying life again. If nothing else does, the magpies will entertain you, Naomi Watts is her usual reliable self, with a perfectly competent supporting cast. Goes along at a casual pace which puts you in there with the family. I liked it, as has everyone I know who's seen it!

While Glendyn Ivin's based-on-a-true-story 'Penguin Bloom' often falls into run-of-a-mill territory of those family dramas about overcoming physical and mental struggles, the film succeeds in engaging the emotions, both in times of overbearingness and those of joy and ambition. Naomi Watts delivers a strong, impactful performance with the rest of the cast is made up of strong performers but have little things to do. In addition to the performances, the cinematography and background score are great and ties the movie together.

A tragic story turned awe-inspiring, surrounded by love... love of family, love of nature, love of, yes, a bird. Loved it!