In 1976, Tom Michel, a British man looking for a teaching job, winds up in Argentina at a prestigious private school. However, even private school life is not separate from the chaos of the rising military dictatorship that threatens to control the country. As Michel, a cold and seemingly uncaring teacher, struggles to connect with his students, none of his colleagues enjoy his company, and neither does he. He is in it purely for the job. That changes when his selfish tendencies lead him to save an oil-slicked penguin in an attempt to impress a woman. The woman leaves, but the penguin stays.
At first adverse to the animal’s presence, Tom cannot escape him, and at every point, people seem more interested in Tom caring for the penguin than in what Tom himself wants. As his life becomes more complicated with the military conflict knocking at his doorstep, the penguin becomes a symbol of hope for all who encounter it, and Tom begins to embrace life at its challenges.
The film’s tone combines elements from a number of endearing classics. It’s a fish-out-of-water story, like any film where a Western English man travels to a foreign country (Lawrence of Arabia, Lost in Translation, Shogun, The Last Samurai). It also has the setup of Dead Poets Society, where a teacher inspires students to find hope and meaning during difficult times, despite their privileged or rigidly structured education. Unlike Robin Williams’ John Keating, however, Michel is initially pessimistic and snobby; he does not care if his students succeed and simply wants to make the most of his time and get paid. The story also incorporates elements of Life is Beautiful and I’m Still Here, where characters must find courage and confront fascist military control threatening their friends and principles. Finally, it echoes Mr. Popper’s Penguins, where a penguin serves as an endearing symbol that brings people together.
The film is heavily reliant on the charm of its screenplay and actors. The star of the charm is the penguin, who comes to be known as Juan Salvador. His expressions and the way he interacts with the humans suggest that he knows everything that is happening, yet chooses to act in funny, animal-like ways. Every scene with him—whether heartwarming, comedic, or tense—becomes more engaging. Steve Coogan carries much of the film as the protagonist; most other characters revolve around him. He convincingly portrays a charming but initially cold man, whose transformation over the course of the film is clear and satisfying. The cinematography, editing, music, and sound design all support the story without detracting from the charm on screen. At the same time, this restraint can make even the most interesting scenes feel a bit underwhelming, and some moments could benefit from more energy.
Ultimately, the film is a hopeful statement about how one non-human creature can reveal what makes humans special. The responsibility Juan Salvador gives Tom pushes him to engage more deeply with others, and in a sense, he is reborn. Even when faced with more challenging situations than he has encountered before, Tom feels alive as he stands up for what he believes in. Inspired by the penguin, the real Tom Michel fulfills his dream of writing a book about the life his journey led him toward. Juan Salvador is a crowd-pleasing, heartwarming story worth checking out.
