Last night I returned to the Broadway to see My Penguin Friend and I think it is one of the most heartwarming movies I've seen in a long time. It tells the true story about a Magellanic penguin who traveled from Patagonia every year to visit the man in Brazil who nursed him back to health after being caught in an oil spill. Joao Pereira de Souza (Jean Reno) is a fisherman living on the coast of Brazil who has isolated himself from the villagers around him because he is still grieving the loss of his young son who died many years ago in a boating accident for which he feels responsible. A penguin is separated from his colony during its annual migration from Patagonia and washes up on Joao's beach sick and covered in oil. Joao brings the penguin home, much to the dismay of his exasperated wife Maria (Adriana Barraza), and cares for him tenderly until he is ready to be released back into the wild. When the penguin, dubbed Dindim by a girl in the village, returns the following year, it brings Joao back to life and Dindim ultimately helps him reconcile his son's death. The underwater cinematography following Dindim's journey from Patagonia to Brazil and back again is incredibly beautiful and immersive and I loved the footage of the penguin colony because I learned so much about their behavior. There are also some shots from Dindim's POV that are highly amusing because he is very curious and a little bit naughty. Some liberties are taken with the story but it is really touching, especially a scene when Dindim is in peril and another when we realize that Joao is desperate to save him because he was unable to save his son. Reno gives a performance that is subtle but affecting and I also love that Dindim is portrayed by ten different rescue penguins. This is such an uplifting movie about the power of friendship and forgiveness that I think almost anyone would enjoy it!
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