The Penguin Lessons
Based on the experiences of English teacher Tom Michell’s (Steve Coogan) time in Argentina, The Penguin Lessons is a heart-warming tale of companionship set against a background of political upheaval. While the script’s sanitised approach to the country’s situation diminishes the severity of what was happening to make the film more palatable, Coogan’s excellent performance succeeds in whisking viewers into the uplifting narrative.
Arriving in Buenos Aires in 1976, Michell has been hired to teach at a prestigious college for the city’s elite. He’s happy enough to go along with the “head down, mouth shut” attitude of the headmaster (Johnathan Pryce) while half-heartedly giving lectures to a classroom of disinterested teenagers. When the coup begins, he’s more interested in using the school’s temporary closure as an excuse to take a trip to Uruguay. It’s there he rescues an adorable penguin from an oil slick. Although he initially wants nothing to do with the animal, he soon finds himself forming a strong bond with the bird, who’s soon dubbed Juan Salvador.
Coogan is superb here, combining his wry comedic wit with a genuine tenderness that’s gradually revealed throughout the film. The dry humour makes for some great gags early on, with a running joke where Michell is forced to keep his newfound feathered friend being a particular highlight. As the story progresses and the teacher becomes more involved with the plight of a cleaner who works at the college (a fierce Vivian El Jaber), his cynical worldview is worn away as he reconnects with the person he used to be. Though the plot hits all the familiar beats, it’s impossible not to be won over by both the human and animal leads.
It’s the glossy nature of the feel-good story that results in the mishandling of the political themes. The subplot of a young woman being “disappeared” by a fascist regime is treated more as an afterthought to be resolved in a contrived Hollywood ending than anything else. As loveable as the penguin may be, the two halves don’t merge well.
Setting a tale of animal friendship against one of human cruelty is an odd choice that doesn’t always work. However, Coogan and his penguin co-star bring enough charm to The Penguin Lessons for viewers to get behind what the film is trying to do.
Andrew Murray
The Penguin Lessons is released nationwide on 18th April 2025.
Watch the trailer for The Penguin Lessons here:
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