A charming semi-true story for the family

In the spring of 2011, a single Magellanic penguin was caught in an oil spill en route to its summer breeding grounds. The unflappable creature eventually made its way to Proveta Beach in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, which also happened to be the home of local retiree Joao Pereira de Souza. Pereira de Souza gently nursed the little one back to health (lots of fish), named him Dindim (thanks to his young grandson’s mispronunciation of “pinguim,” Portuguese for penguin), and tried to set him free near a local island once who seemed to be in fighting shape again.

But Dindim returned, reappearing in Pereira de Souza’s court just a few hours later. In February 2012, Dindim finally left his human friend and Proveta Beach on his own. And in June of that year, while all the other penguins were going down to their summer homes elsewhere in the ocean, Dindim returned to Proveta Beach to summer with Pereira de Souza. Again, in February, he left. And in June he returned. He did this for eight years in a row.

Understandably, the true story of the kind-hearted man who saved the loyal penguin went viral (albeit with some false claims, such as Dindim traveling 5,000 miles each way to visit his summer friend; most people I think he spent the winter months at sea before returning to Proveta beach). It’s also understandable that that story (and some of the bogus claims, real fish stories, if you will) have now spawned a lighthearted, rather heartwarming movie version that should delight families and animal lovers alike.

While director David Schurmann’s My Penguin Friend may play fast and loose with the facts of Joao and Dindim’s true story — including some fictional human trauma and some disturbing animal peril — its spirit is pure, as is his message about the magic of animal husbandry. and the power to do the right thing. It’s cute, lively and guaranteed to get kids interested in the wild world around them, even better if that includes some outside research into what really happened to Joao and Dindim.

In Schurmann’s version, as written by Kristen Lazarian and Paulina Lagudi Ulrich, Joao is not a retired bricklayer but a fisherman who has spent most of his life on this one stretch of beach, for better and (as we shall soon see ) in bad. Played in the film’s opening scenes by Pedro Urizzi and later (and primarily) by international superstar Jean Reno, this Joao suffers a terrible tragedy during what should have been a wonderful day on the water: his birthday of his young son Miguel (Juan José Garnica), who wanted nothing more than to spend his special day on the water with his father.

Decades later, the horrific events of that day still haunt him, and Joao (plus his devoted wife Maria, played in her youth by Amanda Magalhães and later by the powerful Adriana Barraza) has withdrawn from the world, including the other local villagers and fishermen who they were once such an essential part of family life. “That old man’s broken, nothing can fix him,” one of his fellow fishermen tells us, and the hurt look in Reno’s eyes does nothing to dispel the truth of the notion.

And still. Miles and miles away, a young Magellanic penguin is on its way. Shot casually from Dindim’s perspective, “My Penguin Friend” offers a real sense of wonder and play (Fernando Velázquez’s score assists) as the colony of Patagonian penguins prepares to take to the ocean for the summer months, feeding and reproducing their hearts. ‘content. Dindim snoozes in his nest as a group of enthusiastic birds observe the start of his tribe’s thrilling migration process (while some of the I-am-a-penguin shots look fake CGI, most of them are captivating and impressive and with will surely delight a younger audience).

Along the way, Dindim gets caught in a small oil spill, bad enough to make him sick, tired and very confused. They drift away from these friends, eventually washing up on Joao’s native shores. Seemingly desperate to get something out of the drink, the heartbroken fisherman plucks the little guy, nursing him back to full health with plenty of fish (he has plenty, of course) and overflowing love (he has that, too). Maria is less sold on the little boy, but when Joao dresses him in one of Miguel’s old sweaters—hammy but effective drama—even she can’t quite resist his charm or the healing power of his presence on her. damaged husband. “It’s all for the penguin,” Maria complains as Joao struggles to build her a little residence of his own, but it’s a real treat to see Joao take on anything with gusto, even if it’s penguin-based architecture.

Played by a group of 10 real rescued penguins (the film’s official press notes say that most of Dindim’s performance is by the penguin “hero” Maui, with assists from Big Z, Teodora, Madalena, Capitao, Rosita, Fafa , Homer, Amelia, and Alcione), Dindim is curious and fun, confident and witty. Enter the village! Try to help with chores! He somehow breaks a bike! Hugs with Joao in front of the TV! And when the movie Joao, like the real-life Joao, tries to release him back into the ocean, he comes swimming on his back. Until, of course, the movie Dindim, like the real-life Dindim, goes swimming one day in February.

As a heartbroken Reno retraces his small steps to the ocean’s edge, even those audience members who know the true story behind My Penguin Friend (or realize we’re not even halfway through the movie yet) they will feel some real pain. Schurmannn cleverly tempers the trauma by following Dindim on his journey back to the Patagonian beach where he was born. There, he is greeted by his colony, his cozy nest, and a trio of curious researchers who marvel at this abnormally calm and friendly penguin, one who doesn’t seem fazed by human interaction at all. Months pass, and as the colony leaves, so does Dindim: straight back to Joao and Maria’s house.

Dindim’s return is heralded by everyone, not just Joao and Maria, but also the rest of the local population, all excited to be able to greet the penguin. and his human friend with warmth, affection and mistrust. Understandably, Dindim’s highly personal migratory adventures are recorded, shared and devoured. For Joao and Maria, the concept of “going viral” is a foreign one, but they eventually come to terms with the importance of sharing this story with the world, even if that includes those curious researchers and their somewhat nefarious boss.

Schurmann’s film takes the most liberties in its final act, turning Dindim’s virality into an excuse for far more dramatic twists and turns (few of which actually happened) that help the film to a movie-ready ending which could be false in the narrative. but it feels utterly real in its emotion. The true story of Joao and Dindim has always been good enough for a big screen version, and while “My Penguin Friend” may inflate some parts of this particular fish story, the result is the same: true feeling and a cute little boy to help share. them.

Grade: B-

Roadside Attractions will release “My Penguin Friend” in theaters on Friday, August 16.

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