After the death of the Argentine head of state Juan Perón in 1974, his wife Isabel became president. But under her government it was rapidly downhill with the economy, regular waves of inflation made life particularly difficult for the population. In addition, left-wing guerrilla organizations such as the Montoneros caused unrest, which in turn caused right-wing militias. In this highly explosive political mixture, the new work of the British director Peter Cattaneo begins, which in 1997 achieved a genuine cult film with the stripper drama “completely or not at all”.
“”The penguin of my life“Is based on The autobiographical book by Tom Michell of the same name*, an English teacher who just no longer spurs a rescued penguin (and therefore almost inevitably made up for with him). Despite the dramatic social background, the feel-good shares that the human and animal main actor contribute significantly outweigh: Steve Coogan (“Philomena”) and the title-giving Magellanpenguin simply have to be received.
It takes time for Tom (Steve Coogan) to make the idea of letting him live a penguin.
When Tom (Steve Coogan) in Buenos Aires takes up his position as an English teacher in the private St. George's School, a coup is already in the air. On March 24, 1976, the time has come: March music on the radio announces that the military has taken over power. In the middle of the general uncertainty, the lessons are initially suspended. Tom uses the days off for an amusement trip to neighboring Uruguay. To impress a potential one-night stand (Micaela Breque), he takes on a helpless, oil-dirty penguins on a walk in the beach. However, while the woman says goodbye the next morning, Tom will not get rid of the pending animal.
Back in Buenos Aires, he finally decides to take the magellan penguin, which was first secretly held on the balcony of his room, into his seventh grade. Now he is finally the attention of his privileged problem students, the learning success is increasing. However, the brutal repression emitted by the new rulers. Tom is only really aware of this when he witness to the kidnapping of Sofia (Alfonsina Caroccio), the granddaughter of school housekeeper Maria (Vivian El Jaber) …
Two perfectly harmonizing co-stars!
You like to follow Steve Coogan in his role. The Brit is a sympathizer par excellence, even if he gives his figure a good dose of sarcasm at the beginning. His tom is a master of dry humor. For example, he manifests himself in dealing with his speaking Finnish colleague (heart: Björn Gustafsson) suffering from lovesickness, who undesirably accompanies him to Uruguay. And especially in his initial attempts to get rid of his animal companion – for example in customs control, one of the funniest scenes in the film. In the long run, Tom does not succeed in staying out of the turmoil in Argentina in the still protected room of the school. At the latest after Sofia's kidnapping, his political awareness is sharpened. He begins to take a position.
Nevertheless, his feathered co-star keeps stealing the show: simply cute how the Magellan penguin, who soon called Juan Salvador, waddles through the action. The patient bird not only flys many hearts, the people who have to do with him also voluntarily spread their worries and needs in front of him. Juan Salvador becomes a veritable soul flower not only for the school director (Jonathan Pryce), who would like to keep his facility out of politics, but ultimately cannot jump over his shadow.
After he initially hidden him, Tom finally takes his penguin into his lessons – and has huge success with the students.
The film, directed by Peter Cattaneo, who also adapted the template with Jeff Pope, has a whole series of feel -good moments. Due to the (excessive) emphasis on these aspects, “Penguin of my life” also gives some blank. An impression that is reinforced by Federico Jusid's somewhat sticky score. Cattaneo and Pope's excessive violent approach of the military junta blend against “subversive elements” and the one they thinks for it.
A scene in which Tom wants to get into conversation with a henchmen from the regime about Sofia's fate is increasingly indicating the brutal cold -ceiling of the new rulers. But in view of the tremendous extent of delay, torture and murder, this seems too little. In the course of the military dictatorship, which lasted from 1976 to 1983, around 30,000 people in Argentina are said to have lost their lives through state terrorism.
Conclusion: You can take a look at “the penguin of my life”, which plays against the background of the 1976 coup in Argentina, without disturbing the brutality of the military regime too much. This makes him a real feel -good film, which in this case does not always feel right.