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‘My Penguin Friend’ Review: Jean Reno and an Adorable Penguin Overcome Strife in Family-Friendly Charmer
A grieving fisherman rescues a lost penguin, irrevocably impacting their worlds, in true-life tribute to an unlikely friendship 'My Penguin Friend.'
Inspired by the unshakeable bond between a real-life Brazilian fisherman and a Magellanic penguin thrown off his migration route, the French actor reveals new colors as a performer, shading the picture’s playful and poignant overtones with sensitivity and subtlety, making this a must-see for those who love uplifting stories about redemption, perseverance and empathy. The lonely fisherman immediately feels compelled to help this messy, misguided animal, brokering a deal with Maria (Adriana Barraza, whose supporting work is quietly touching) to clean, shelter and rehabilitate DinDim (who earned his name from a young girl mispronouncing “penguin” in Portuguese). To give a sense of realism during the scenes set in the penguins’ territory, Schurmann partners with wildlife cinematographer Cristian Dimitrius, beautifully capturing the colony’s everyday activities and avoidance of predators, seemingly pulling inspiration from movies such as “The Black Stallion” and “The Bear.”
Or read this on Variety
