Expecting an easy ride as an English teacher, Tom Michell (Steve Coogan) is surprised to discover that 1976 Argentina is quite turbulent—both politically, with a military coup ever-looming over the country, and in his classroom, where the students refuse to behave. At his wits' end and about to give up, Tom's life gets fowl-ed up even more when he happens across a penguin on the beach that had been caught in an oil spill and left to die. After saving its life, Tom finds that getting rid of his new feathered friend—now named Juan Salvador—is more difficult than he expected, but Tom's students are immediately fascinated with the new addition to the classroom. As Tom uses Juan to teach his students English while hiding the penguin from the school's headmaster (Jonathan Pryce), the grumpy educator finds that he himself is learning a few lessons in kindheartedness and empathy from little Juan. "The main reason why The Penguin Lessons is sweet, but also poignant, is due to the script's keen eye for comedy in the face of a tumultuous backdrop"—Isabella Soares, Collider.

In English and in Spanish with English subtitles.

This film is eligible for the Youth Arts Access Fund. Call the Box Office at 207.873.7000 to obtain YAAF tickets. Pay it forward! Donate to YAAF here.

WATCH TRAILER >