There simply aren’t enough films like My Penguin Friend. I don’t even need to say it but we are undoubtedly living through a dark time, a time when stories of hope and love are needed most. The funny thing is that these stories are all around us, all the time. For whatever stupid evolutionary reason, human nature is to put all focus on the bad. Thankfully, every now and then a filmmaker like David Schurmann and a story like that of Joao and his feathered buddy Dindim comes around and reminds us all of the light and simple joy found in the love of family and friends.
My Penguin Friend tells the true story of Joao Pereira de Souza (Jean Reno), a retired bricklayer from Brazil. Dealing with the heartache from losing his son many years ago and an all around lack of enthusiasm about life he one day finds a Penguin on the beaches of Ilha Grande soaked in oil and in need of help. Joao brings the bird home, much to the chagrin of his wife Maria (Adriana Barraza), cleans it and nurses it back to health. The two become fast friends not to mention village celebrities until one day Dindim is gone. Following his footprints to the water Joao is distraught to find that his little friend has gone back to his kind. This isn’t the end of our story, just the beginning actually, as the next Summer Dindim returns and starts a yearly Summer visit that becomes a global sensation.
I don’t want to say Jean Reno is underrated, he’s well known as an elite level actor, especially to international artists. I do think he has never been as prized state-side as he deserves. My Penguin Friend is the perfect vehicle to show audiences where he excels, playing characters with inner-torment and sadness who find joy. The subtlety with which he plays Joao is the key, a sort of gentle giant who’s happiness and sadness radiate from his eyes. While Dindim is the star of the show it’s Reno’s Joao that carries the emotional load.
Director David Schurmann and writers Kristen Lazarian and Paulina Lagudi Ulrich had some tough decisions to make with this film and they made the right choices every time. Some may criticize the film for being obvious or shallow, but I don’t see that. I see a story that’s focused, we don’t need to delve to deep into the loss of Joao’s son or the difficulties he’s had in life, not when you have an actor of Reno’s caliber that can communicate these things through his performance. The film sees it’s characters face adversity, mostly at the unintentional hands of well-meaning biologists, but the film maintains it’s focus as a story of happiness and friendship.
It should be said that this is a film for a certain kind of audience. If you’re turned off by overtly sweet films or are looking for something with alot of bite or dramatic depth, this isn’t going to be for you. The film, which clocks in at just over 90 minutes, does drag at points. It’s not so much like they could have cut it down for pacing but more the nature of the story being told.
The story of Joao and Dindim in My Penguin Friend is one that I think we all need at some level in today’s world. Adults will be moved by the story and the notion that happiness is all around if you only look and accept it when it presents itself. The kids, of course, will be absolutely in love with Dindim, whose mischievous nature and adorable waddling are enough to illicit giggles from even the grumpiest of viewers.
