“You don’t often see penguins in films about human rights abuses,” Steve Coogan told Variety, and he’s right. The Penguin Lessons operates like it’s juggling on a tightrope walk; that’s how much of a balancing act the film is. Based on the story of Tom Michel, a teacher at a boarding school over in Argentina during Isabel Perón’s right-wing government ahead of the military junta and the Dirty War. The discovery of a tarred penguin leads to changes in his and his school’s perspectives. The film exists somewhere between Happy Feet and Life Is Beautiful, and is grounded by Coogan’s wonderful performance. Coogan and director Peter Cattaneo spoke with MovieWeb about the penguins and balancing the film’s unique tone.
Steve Coogan and director Peter Cattaneo discuss the tone and animals of their new movie, ‘The Penguin Lessons.’ Read More