Jean Reno’s most iconic film role is that of Leon in Luc Besson’s The Professional. In a distinguished career, he’ll probably always be most closely associated with playing killers and hitmen. He’s also among my favorite actors ever. But he’s also getting up there in age and has slowed down a lot, and a family-friendly film such as My Penguin Friend is perfect for him now. Nobody needs to get assassinated or anything. There’s just a penguin that needs caring for.
The film is based on the incredible true story of João Perei de Souza, a Brazilian fisherman who in 2011 rescued a lost Magellanic penguin from an oil spill. Lost and disillusioned after a tragedy, João begins to find the joy in life again as he takes the penguin, which he names DinDim (it means “ice pop”) under his wing and nurses it back to health. When the bird ventures back into the ocean, it’s unlikely that the two will ever be reunited. But DinDim has other ideas, using its GPS-like abilities to travel the 5,000 miles to return to the one who saved him.
DinDim returned year after year at the same time. It’s an amazing story that shows the unique connection that can be forged between man and the natural world.
Adriana Barraza (Blue Beetle) plays João’s wife, who doesn’t start as a fan of him becoming so attached to the animal.
The film is directed by David Schurmann (Little Secret) from a screenplay by Lagudi, Kristen Lazarian.
Here’s the synopsis: A sweeping family adventure, My Penguin Friend is a triumphant tale of friendship between a lonely father and a little lost penguin who recharges his spirit and heals his family with an unshakable, ocean-crossing loyalty. Humble fisherman João (International star Jean Reno) has turned away from the world in the wake of tragedy. But when he discovers a penguin drifting alone in the ocean, drenched in oil from a spill, his first instinct is to help. To his wife’s (Oscar nominee Adriana Barraza) dismay, he not only rescues the sea creature, but takes the flightless bird under his wing. For the first time in years João starts to feel joy, even if he cannot fathom just how unbreakable a bond is being formed. When the penguin suddenly disappears back into the immense wilds of the ocean, João believes it is impossible that he will ever see his friend again. But thousands of miles away, the penguin is caught in misadventures of his own, determined to use his unique GPS-like powers to find his way back to the place he now considers home. Based on an emotional true story that riveted the world and filmed on the spectacular coasts of Brazil and Argentina, My Penguin Friend is a tale that traverses the magic of the ocean, the beauty of nature, and the transformative power of love.
My Penguin Friend opens in theaters on August 16th.
