The penguin who conquers the heart of the teacher in Argentina

The penguin who conquers the heart of the teacher in Argentina

In today's cinema world there is a special film that already causes many discussions: "The penguin of my life". This stripe told with a lot of love and humor celebrates its premiere in Austria on June 2, 2025. After a book by Tom Michell, the film tells the touching story of a British teacher who finds its own way in the political restlessness of Argentina in the 1970s.

played by Steve Coogan, teacher Tom comes to the turbulent Buenos Aires, where he taught on a boys' boarding school. The circumstances are not without, because a military coup is imminent - a time full of uncertainty and threat. Tom tries to find his way around this tense situation. He receives support from his Finnish colleague Tapio, who also fights with personal difficulties because his wife left him. Together they sit down at a table to forget your everyday life for a moment.

a penguin on the balcony

A special turning point in Tom's life occurs when he finds an oil -dirty Magellan penguin during a short vacation in Uruguay. After cleaning the animal in his hotel room, he brings this badly treated "Juan Salvador" to Argentina. Despite the ban on keeping animals, Tom hides the penguin in his boarding school. The penguin will soon become a loyal companion and a confidante in Toms of uncertainty.

Through Juan Salvador's presence, Tom manages to build a deeper relationship with his students. He motivates her to poetry, while the penguin conquers the hearts of Tom's students and also the art -loving Maria and her granddaughter Sofia in the storm. But while the students are inspired by the animal, political pressure at school is becoming increasingly noticeable. Due to the conflict between the director and Tom, the story becomes exciting.

between comedy and Ernst

director Peter Cattanneo, who became known through films such as "The Full Monty", is skillfully balanced in "The penguin of my life" between humorous and serious moments. The scenes in which the mothers of the Plaza de Mayo struggle to clarify the fate of their disappeared relatives are in strong contrast to the cheerful interactions between Tom and his students. This mixture of tragedy and comedy is reminiscent of "The Club of the Dead Poets" by Peter Weir.

The reviews of the film are mixed. While some reviewers praise the charming tragicomedy and emphasize the emotional facets, there are also critical voices that complain about disregarding the military regime. The film on Metacritic received a score of 52 out of 100, which indicates that opinions about the implementation of history vary greatly.

Overall, "The penguin of my life" offers a unique perspective on a turbulent time and shows how a friendship between humans and animals can be a bright spot in a dark era. Do not miss the opportunity to see this special film, which is much more than just an animal story. You can find out more about this at TV-Media and and Cinema time.