Overview

• The Penguin Lessons, starring Steve Coogan and Jonathan Pryce, opens in UK cinemas on 18 April 2025, adapting Tom Michell’s memoir of rescuing a penguin in Argentina.
• Director Peter Cattaneo chose to work with a live penguin instead of CGI, capturing spontaneous interactions and adding authenticity to the film.
• Set against Argentina's 1976 military coup, the film balances its lighthearted animal-centered narrative with a portrayal of human rights abuses during the dictatorship.
• Steve Coogan described the experience of acting alongside the penguin as peaceful and meditative, while Jonathan Pryce humorously recounted his initial hesitation about working with the animal.
• The film aims to entertain while subtly raising awareness about historical and contemporary political issues, with its unique mix of warmth and gravity.