Shadows on the Wall | The Penguin Lessons

The Penguin Lessons

dir Peter Cattaneo
scr Jeff Pope
prd Ben Pugh, Rory Aitken, Andrew Noble, Adrian Guerra, Robert Walak
with Steve Coogan, Jonathan Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Bjorn Gustafsson, Alfonsina Carrocio, David Herrero, Aimar Miranda, Gera Maleh, Hugo Fuertes, Florencia Nocetti, Joaquin Lopez, Miguel Alejandro Serrano
release US 28.Mar.25,
UK 18.Apr.25
24/Spain 1h51

TORONTO FILM FEST

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Inspired by real events, this warm and witty period drama is sharply written by Jeff Pope and directed by Peter Cattaneo. And because it centres around an adorable penguin that's being cared for by a curmudgeonly Englishman, the film wins us over with amusing antics that are accompanied by deeper ideas about identity and political integrity. So even if it feels deliberately uplifting, the story is hugely involving.

Arriving in 1976 Buenos Aires, English teacher Tom (Coogan) is warned by headmaster Timothy (Pryce) that a coup is imminent. But he prefers to keep his posh boys school out of politics. On a trip to Uruguay, he rescues a penguin from an oil slick, and it becomes attached to him, refusing to return to the wild. So Tom brings him back to the school. Named Juan Salvador, the penguin helps Tom befriend two cleaners (El Jaber and Carrocio). And he also catches the attention of Tom's privileged, unruly students. helping them to focus on his lessons.

Details add some interest along the way. Tom is also required to coach rugby, which he loathes. He also reluctantly allows fellow teacher Tapio (Gustafsson) to tag along with him on his trip to Uruguay. And he's too observant not to notice the nature of Argentina's social upheaval. But it's the effect of this penguin on both Tom and the students that provides the film its centre. And once Tom has their ear, his lessons begin to be meaningful in a Dead Poets Society kind of way.

Coogan is perfectly cast, both grumpy and charming at the same time as he begrudgingly does the right thing. His basic tenet is that he will not get involved in anything, but each situation forces him into action. His journey is compelling and even moving. Of the nicely played surrounding characters, most are devised to feed meaningfully into Tom's narrative, rather than their own stories. And Juan Salvador is a seriously talented scene-stealer.

This was a horrific period in Argentina's history, as those who spoke against the government were routinely tortured and killed. As much as Timothy tries to keep the school apart from this, it can't help but affect daily life to the point that doing nothing is immoral. So the film grows increasingly serious. Thankfully, there's plenty of humour woven into even the more intense scenes. So while the smiley humour and bittersweet drama sometimes feel pushy, the resonant undercurrents make it both memorable and important.

themes, language, violence 23.Mar.25

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