This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Roadside Attractions.
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the bonds we share with the animals in our life, and how it relates to my own pets. And of course, it doesn’t stop there; we can also develop attachments to wild animals. For most of us, it will go as far as enjoying the birds who visit the feeders in our yard – but for one man, the bird in his life was a lot larger! My Penguin Friend is a new film coming to theaters on August 16th that tells the remarkable story of a fisherman named João (Played by Jean Reno) who finds a sick penguin, covered in oil. He takes the bird home, cleans his feathers and nurses him back to health; once the penguin recovers, he releases him back into the wild – and is shocked when the bird comes back. This begins a friendship where the penguin, whom he names DinDim, will migrate but then continually return back to João. They form an incredible bond, but João insists he’s not a pet, as DinDim comes and goes as he pleases. But when DinDim doesn’t return on schedule, João fears the worst – will he be able to find his penguin friend and help him get back to the place he now calls home?
My Penguin Friend was inspired by the incredible true story of João Pereira de Souza, who was visited every year by the penguin he rescued. At the end of the film, we’re shown an epilogue featuring footage and images of the real-life João; click here to read a news article about it which includes video. It’s an amazing story, and I’m not surprised that it became inspiration for a movie. This is a heartwarming film, perfect for the whole family to enjoy together – but grab a tissue, because it’s a tearjerker at times! My Penguin Friend is a movie that takes flight, even if its feathered star can’t!
Synopsis:
João (International star Jean Reno) has turned away from the world in the wake of tragedy. But when he discovers a penguin drifting alone in the ocean, drenched in oil from a spill, his first instinct is to help. To his wife’s (Oscar nominee Adriana Barraza) dismay, he not only rescues the sea creature, but takes the flightless bird under his wing. For the first time in years João starts to feel joy, even if he cannot fathom just how unbreakable a bond is being formed. When the penguin suddenly disappears back into the immense wilds of the ocean, João believes it is impossible that he will ever see his friend again. But thousands of miles away, the penguin is caught in misadventures of his own, determined to use his unique GPS-like powers to find his way back to the place he now considers home. Based on an emotional true story that riveted the world and filmed on the spectacular coasts of Brazil and Argentina, My Penguin Friend is a tale that traverses the magic of the ocean, the beauty of nature, and the transformative power of love.
My Penguin Friend comes to theaters on August 16th! For more about this film and to find showtimes & tickets, visit MyPenguinFriend.com and follow along on social media with hashtag #MyPenguinFriend and on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook @roadsideattractionsfilms, and on Twitter/X @roadsidetweets.
This looks so cute