British actor Steve Coogan breaks the age-old showbiz rule about working with children and animals in The Penguin Lessons, a comedy drama that blends warmth, history, and quiet reflection. Based on a true story and the memoir by Tom Michell, the film is set in 1976 and follows the unlikely friendship between a British teacher at a Buenos Aires boarding school and a penguin he rescues during a trip to Uruguay.
Coogan portrays Michell, who, after finding a lone penguin covered in oil on a beach, unsuccessfully tries to return it to the wild. With no other option, he sneaks the penguin back to Argentina. There, the bird—played by real penguins Richard and Baba—becomes a catalyst for emotional growth and connection, not just for Michell, but for the students and staff around him.
Despite initial concerns about working with unpredictable animals and young actors, Coogan found the experience surprisingly serene. “Because we had to protect the penguins and avoid loud noises, the entire set was incredibly calm. That peacefulness had a ripple effect,” he said at the London premiere. “People always talk about mindfulness. But when you watch a penguin, you see a creature fully in the present moment—not anxious about the future or stuck in the past. It’s a lesson in itself.”
Directed by Peter Cattaneo of The Full Monty fame and written by Jeff Pope, the film carefully navigates the juxtaposition of light-hearted personal transformation and the dark political context of Argentina’s military coup in the 1970s. The filmmakers debated shifting the timeline but ultimately embraced the challenge of blending history with heart.
Cattaneo explained that growing awareness of “disappeared denial”—the tendency to ignore or downplay the atrocities of the era—convinced him not to erase the backdrop. “We couldn’t pretend the setting wasn’t difficult. But it made the story’s theme of small acts of kindness even more powerful.”
Pope added, “Even when everything around you seems lost, a simple gesture can still make a difference. That’s the heart of the story.”
The Penguin Lessons is now playing in U.S. theaters and will be released worldwide starting April 17, inviting audiences to embrace empathy, presence, and the unexpected friendships that change us.
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