My Penguin Friend

When is the last time you went to a movie that left you feeling good about humanity? This quiet little gem is perfect for pretty much anybody, even people who are too cool to admit they like it but secretly do anyway. Part animal story, part commentary on healing the broken human heart, I got to see this at a local art movie theater and enjoyed it thoroughly. Support tender little films like this at your local art house to show that we need more of them made and appreciate them when the effort is taken to do so. Excellent cast, unusual setting, cute penguins and beautiful scenery, this film has all you need to walk out of the theater smiling.

Greetings again from the darkness. It's understandable if this movie makes you consider whether penguins might make better friends than people. David Schurmann directs a script from Kristen Lazarian Paulina and Lagudi Ulrich that is 'inspired by a true story'. By now, we all recognize this as code for dramatic license has been taken, and it's up to the viewer to differentiate fact from fiction.

Brazilian fisherman Joao (Pedro Urizzi), his wife Maria (Amanda Magalhaes), and their son Miguel (Juan Jose Garnica) are living a lovely, simple life along the coast until tragedy strikes at sea on Miguel's birthday. The story jumps ahead a few decades to find a sullen and continuously grieving and guilt-ridden Joao (Jean Reno) and an extraordinarily patient Maria (Adriana Barraza) still live in the same house, though they barely interact with others in the remote village.

One day, Joao rescues an injured penguin from an oil slick. After carefully cleansing the oil from the penguin's coat, Joao begins feeding him a steady (and consistent) diet of fresh sardines. Joao is happy when the recuperated penguin sticks around for a while and is elated when he shows back up the following year. Maria isn't sure what to make of the returning penguin (named DinDim by a local girl), yet she's thrilled to see Joao has a bit of spark. As viewers, we see what Joao doesn't. DinDim hails from Patagonia and is part of the annual penguin migration being studied by Marine Biologist researchers.

Mr. Reno and Ms. Barraza (nominated for an Oscar for BABEL, 2006) are two familiar and dependable character actors who rarely get a shot at lead roles, and even here, they are often in support of a penguin. They are both relatable and excellent here. Reno does nice work conveying a broken man who rediscovers joy after so much sorrow. It's also interesting to see DinDim's initial trip and how he became separated from the colony. Of course, much of this is speculation, although we do know that this penguin returned to Joao for eight consecutive years, and actual clips are shown at the end of the film. Director Schurmann has delivered a film that could be enjoyed by families, with only the early tragedy being a point of concern.

Opening in theaters on August 16, 2024.

Our local theater does "Mystery Movies" on Monday where all the tell you is the run time and rating before the movies starts, so we had no expectations. When it started, I saw that this was going to be a PG animal flick, so I started out bummed. I was pleasantly surprised. Based on the true story of a man who befriends a penguin, but the real story is more about how a man overcomes grief and re-engages with his life and community. How a village can actively support one another. There are quite a few laughs and silly moments as you would expect from a movie with a penguin as a main character, but pull that back, and it really is a redemption and growth story about a simple couple in a fishing village. There are a few darker themes, especially around human hubris and callousness, this will go over younger viewers' heads, all in all, a really heartwarming film that I recommend to take the whole family to see. My biggest criticism is that the dialog was a bit weak and they tried a bit too hard with some of the underwater shots. They tried something they hoped would look cool, but it was more disorienting than anything else.

My Penguin Friend was truly a fantastic film. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it really touched my heart. I loved this story of friendship and how you can grow from tragedy. The fact that it was based on a true story made it that much more inspiring. The penguin, Dindim is so precious and made this film so special. Something about the bond between a man and a wild animal really captivates you as well as an entire community coming together to support their friendship. There is so much kindness in this film which is so refreshing. Beware this film will pull at your heartstrings but My Penguin Friend is truly a must see film!!

This was such a heartfelt and loving story. It is not your typical Hollywood movie but rather showed real emotion, the highs and lows and overall love that was shared between a man and a penguin. I loved that real penguins were used versus using CGI or animation that can sometimes make storytelling feel inauthentic and not natural. It really showcases how all walks of life crave human interaction. It was well documented and you could feel the connection through the screen. DinDim helped a man heal and find true meaning again. It was beautifully and wonderfully made and everyone should see it!!