The Penguin Lessons

Inspired by a true story and helmed by the director of The Full Monty, poignant dramedy The Penguin Lessons stars Oscar nominee Steve Coogan. This poignant dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman’s personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history.

When schoolteacher Tom Michell (Steve Coogan) pulls a penguin from an oil slick off the coast of Uruguay, he has no idea what to do. The penguin refuses to return to the ocean, leaving Tom with one option: to smuggle the penguin over the Argentinian border to the prestigious boarding school Tom calls home. There follows a heart-warming story of one remarkable penguin who adapts to boarding school life – whether it's as a team mascot or swimming coach extraordinaire, Juan Salvador the penguin transforms the lives of all he meets.

The script was adapted by Jeff Pope from Tom Michell's memoir of the same name, published in 2015.