Finding Light in Darkness: Exploring 'The Penguin Lessons'
In this episode of *Movies First*, we explore the heartwarming yet poignant film *The Penguin Lessons*, set against the tumultuous backdrop of 1976 Buenos Aires, where a military coup looms ominously. The narrative follows Tom Michelle, played by the charming Steve Coogan, as he navigates his role as a new English teacher at the prestigious St. George's College. The strict headmaster, Timothy Buckle, portrayed by Jonathan Price, enforces rigid rules that challenge Michelle’s unconventional approach to teaching and life.
As Michelle grapples with his coaching duties in rugby—despite his lack of interest—he forms an unexpected friendship with Tapio, a Finnish physics teacher struggling with his own personal demons. Their camaraderie deepens during a school closure, leading them to Uruguay, where a fateful encounter with oil-slicked penguins changes their lives forever. Michelle's decision to rescue a lone Magellanic penguin, initially named Peter and later Juan Salvador, sparks a transformative journey that fosters connections with his students and the school staff, including the dignified housekeeper Maria, played by Vivian L. Jabbar.
While the film balances humor with the grim realities of Argentina’s political climate, it deftly illustrates how joy and companionship can thrive amidst adversity. Sofia, Maria’s granddaughter, embodies the courageous youth who challenge the oppressive regime, adding depth to the narrative. Written by Jeff Pope and directed by Peter Cataneo, *The Penguin Lessons* navigates the delicate interplay of light and dark, showcasing how unexpected bonds can illuminate the path forward.
With a heartfelt score of
7.5 out of 10
, the film serves as a testament to resilience and the power of caring for one another in times of crisis. Join us for an insightful discussion that highlights the film's emotional depth and its ability to inspire hope amid chaos!
https://www.bitesz.com/podcast/movies-first
Become a supporter of this podcast:
https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/movies-first
0
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.640
Alex First: The Penguin Lessons masterfully weaves together
1
00:00:03.040 --> 00:00:05.440
historical drama and heartwarming
2
00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:07.920
companionship in 1976
3
00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:10.960
Buenos Aires as a military coup looms
4
00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:13.360
on the horizon. This period would
5
00:00:13.360 --> 00:00:16.279
ultimately lead to a seven year regime that
6
00:00:16.279 --> 00:00:18.800
saw the disappearance of 30,000 people.
7
00:00:19.200 --> 00:00:21.320
Setting a dark backdrop for an
8
00:00:21.320 --> 00:00:23.520
unexpectedly uplifting tale.
9
00:00:24.080 --> 00:00:27.040
The story centers on Tom Michelle, portrayed
10
00:00:27.040 --> 00:00:30.000
with natural charm and complexity by Steve
11
00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.760
Coogan, who arrives at the prestigious
12
00:00:32.760 --> 00:00:35.560
St. George's College boarding school as a new
13
00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:38.560
English teacher. The strict headmaster
14
00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:41.320
Timothy Buckle, played by Jonathan Price with
15
00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:43.280
quintessential English propriety,
16
00:00:43.680 --> 00:00:46.160
immediately establishes rigid boundaries.
17
00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:49.240
No loud music, no smoking, no
18
00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:52.240
pets, and crucially, no involvement in
19
00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:54.570
local politics. Despite
20
00:00:54.570 --> 00:00:57.370
Michel's complete inexperience and lack of interest
21
00:00:57.370 --> 00:01:00.090
in rugby, he's assigned coaching duties.
22
00:01:00.410 --> 00:01:03.130
Adding to his initial frustrations with the position,
23
00:01:04.010 --> 00:01:06.890
Michelle finds an unlikely friend in Tapio,
24
00:01:07.050 --> 00:01:09.800
Bjorn Gustafsson, a Finnish physics teacher
25
00:01:09.800 --> 00:01:12.760
struggling with his own personal troubles after his
26
00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:15.760
wife left him for another man. Their
27
00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:18.760
relationship highlights the contrast between Michelle's
28
00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:21.750
social ease and and Tapio's awkward demeanor.
29
00:01:22.390 --> 00:01:25.110
During a school closure forced by the military coup.
30
00:01:25.430 --> 00:01:28.320
They travel to Uruguay together, where, fate
31
00:01:28.320 --> 00:01:30.600
intervenes in an unexpected way.
32
00:01:31.320 --> 00:01:33.960
On the Uruguayan beach, following a brief
33
00:01:33.960 --> 00:01:36.640
romantic encounter, Michelle discovers a
34
00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:39.160
tragic scene of oil slicked penguins.
35
00:01:39.800 --> 00:01:42.720
Among the casualties, a single Magellanic
36
00:01:42.720 --> 00:01:45.690
penguin survives, though barely. After
37
00:01:45.690 --> 00:01:48.490
a failed attempt to save the others, Michelle
38
00:01:48.490 --> 00:01:51.210
finds himself responsible for the surviving penguin.
39
00:01:51.450 --> 00:01:54.370
Despite his initial reluctance, the bird forms an
40
00:01:54.370 --> 00:01:56.850
immediate attachment to him, leading to an
41
00:01:56.850 --> 00:01:59.450
impromptu cross border adventure. As Michelle
42
00:01:59.450 --> 00:02:02.090
smuggles his new companion back into Argentina,
43
00:02:02.570 --> 00:02:05.170
the penguin, first named Peter and later
44
00:02:05.170 --> 00:02:07.970
renamed Juan Salvador, becomes a transformative
45
00:02:07.970 --> 00:02:10.850
presence at the school. What begins as a
46
00:02:10.850 --> 00:02:13.830
potential liability given the headmaster's strict
47
00:02:13.830 --> 00:02:16.830
no pets policy evolves into a bridge
48
00:02:16.830 --> 00:02:19.630
between Michelle and his previously resistant students.
49
00:02:20.350 --> 00:02:23.350
The bird's presence also helps forge deeper
50
00:02:23.350 --> 00:02:26.230
connections with the school's staff, particularly with
51
00:02:26.230 --> 00:02:29.150
Michelle's housekeeper Maria, played with dignity
52
00:02:29.150 --> 00:02:32.150
by Vivian L. Jabba. However, the
53
00:02:32.150 --> 00:02:34.990
film doesn't shy away from the political turmoil
54
00:02:34.990 --> 00:02:37.990
engulfing Argentina. The military's
55
00:02:37.990 --> 00:02:40.620
campaign of terror takes touches close to home when
56
00:02:40.620 --> 00:02:42.300
Maria's granddaughter Sofia,
57
00:02:44.380 --> 00:02:46.860
who has lived with her grandmother since age 5,
58
00:02:47.340 --> 00:02:50.100
faces danger due to her outspoken
59
00:02:50.100 --> 00:02:53.060
nature. Sofia's character, portrayed
60
00:02:53.060 --> 00:02:55.339
with fierce determination by Carroccio,
61
00:02:55.660 --> 00:02:58.580
represents the youth who dared to challenge the oppressive
62
00:02:58.580 --> 00:02:59.100
regime.
63
00:02:59.900 --> 00:03:02.740
Written by Jeff Pope, known for Philomena,
64
00:03:02.740 --> 00:03:05.660
and directed by Peter Cataneo, of Military
65
00:03:05.660 --> 00:03:08.660
Wives fame, the film maintains a delicate
66
00:03:08.660 --> 00:03:10.940
balance between humor and gravity.
67
00:03:11.580 --> 00:03:14.420
While some critics might argue that the film could have
68
00:03:14.420 --> 00:03:17.340
delved deeper into the military regime's brutality,
69
00:03:17.580 --> 00:03:20.460
the chosen approach focuses on how moments
70
00:03:20.460 --> 00:03:23.420
of joy and connection can persist even
71
00:03:23.420 --> 00:03:26.180
in dark times. The quirky
72
00:03:26.180 --> 00:03:29.100
elements of the story serve to highlight rather
73
00:03:29.100 --> 00:03:31.820
than diminish the serious undertones of the
74
00:03:31.820 --> 00:03:34.750
historical context. Juan Salvador's impact
75
00:03:34.830 --> 00:03:37.230
extends beyond mere companionship,
76
00:03:37.470 --> 00:03:40.190
helping Michel process his own undisclosed
77
00:03:40.190 --> 00:03:42.590
heartbreak and find renewed purpose.
78
00:03:43.390 --> 00:03:46.350
The Penguin becomes a symbol of resilience and hope
79
00:03:46.750 --> 00:03:49.230
not just for Michelle but for the entire
80
00:03:49.390 --> 00:03:52.110
school community during a period of intense
81
00:03:52.430 --> 00:03:55.190
social and political upheaval. The
82
00:03:55.190 --> 00:03:58.070
film's authenticity is underscored by
83
00:03:58.070 --> 00:04:00.720
its closing footage showing the actual
84
00:04:00.720 --> 00:04:02.640
Penguin from the real events of
85
00:04:02.640 --> 00:04:05.480
1976. The ensemble
86
00:04:05.480 --> 00:04:08.160
cast delivers remarkable performances
87
00:04:08.160 --> 00:04:10.640
throughout. Coogan showcases his
88
00:04:10.640 --> 00:04:13.400
considerable range, moving effortlessly between
89
00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:16.200
comedy and drama. Price brings
90
00:04:16.200 --> 00:04:19.160
gravitas to the role of Headmaster Buckle, while
91
00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:22.120
Gustafsson's portrayal of Tapio adds both
92
00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:24.920
humor and heart. El Jabbar and
93
00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:27.560
Carrocio provide powerful performances
94
00:04:27.640 --> 00:04:29.880
that ground the film in the reality of
95
00:04:29.880 --> 00:04:32.020
Argentina's political cris crisis.
96
00:04:32.820 --> 00:04:35.460
This poignant and polished Production
97
00:04:35.460 --> 00:04:38.260
earns its 7 1/2 out of 10 rating
98
00:04:38.420 --> 00:04:40.660
by successfully combining personal
99
00:04:40.740 --> 00:04:43.460
transformation with historical significance,
100
00:04:43.700 --> 00:04:46.580
showing how unexpected connections can provide
101
00:04:46.580 --> 00:04:48.580
light in the darkest of times.
102
00:04:49.780 --> 00:04:52.740
The Penguin Lessons demonstrates that even in the
103
00:04:52.740 --> 00:04:55.740
midst of political turmoil, the simple act of
104
00:04:55.740 --> 00:04:58.740
caring for another being can restore faith in
105
00:04:58.740 --> 00:04:59.380
humanity.
