The resilience of penguins has been a source of inspiration for many filmmakers. From documentaries about their fascinating habits in The journey of the penguins until their playful nature becomes comical in Happy feetThe flightless birds have certainly become dear to the audience. My penguin friend will capture the hearts of audiences when it is released in August and tells the story of an unusual friendship between a penguin and a fisherman.
While penguin movies certainly know how to tell an emotional story with the power of cute birds, what makes My penguin friend What makes a compelling story to tell on screen is that it’s based on a true story. We’ll look at the real-life friendship that inspired the emotional drama and where the two are today.
My Penguin Friend – Plot and Cast
A fisherman named João struggles with personal problems and heartbreak and finds a meaning and a way to deal with his problems when He rescues and cares for a Magellanic penguin that got caught in an oil spill. In this relationship, the fisherman finds a new meaning in life and a new friend. He names the penguin Dimdim and brings him to his family home despite his wife’s protests. After nursing the charismatic creature back to health, João is devastated when his friend leaves him one day.However, the penguin returns every year and tells a heartwarming story about friendship.
My penguin friend stars Jean Reno as the troubled fisherman João. Reno is a screen veteran and most will know him from his role in the cult hit Léon – The Professional where he played the titular killer Leon. A truly versatile talent, Reno has appeared in everything from gritty action thrillers with Robert De Niro Ronin to the cult gangster comedy series The Pink Pantherwhere he played Ponton in the 2006 film. Adriana Barraza plays João’s wife Maria. Viewers will recognize Barraza from her roles in films such as Babylon, Blue BeetleAnd Drag me to hell. The cast is rounded out by Rochi Hernández, Nicolás Francella and Alexia Moyano.
Director: David Schurmann My penguin friend, This was his first film to attract international attention before its release, but Schurmann brings plenty of experience from his documentary work, particularly a penchant for nautical stories, making him an ideal fit. Shot on the coasts of Brazil and Argentina, the film offers picturesque vistas under the cinematography of Oscar-winning director Anthony Dod Mantle.
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The true story behind my penguin friend
While he takes the liberty of creating a cinematic work, My penguin friend is largely based on the true story of a retired Brazilian bricklayerJoão Pereira de Souza and his meeting with Dimdim. The meeting between the two in 2011 was already a chance encounter with the Magellanic penguin species, normally found on the coasts of Patagonia in Argentina and Chile, 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers from their meeting point.
Already a remarkable event that made João and Dimdim local celebrities in their village at the gates of Rio de Janeiro, The two became a global phenomenon after biologist Joao Paulo Krajewski interviewed João Pereira de Souza for Globo TVThe story of the unusual friendship, the love that João expressed for Dimdim and his kind words led to the piece receiving international coverage and going viral.
“I love the penguin as if it were my own child, and I believe that the penguin loves me… No one else is allowed to touch him. If they do, he pecks them. He lies on my lap, lets me shower him, lets me feed him sardines and pick him up,” João Perei de Souza in an interview with Globo TV
Biologist Joao Paulo Krajewski believed that Dimdim even went so far as to consider João as another penguin. He assured the public that their annual meetings were not a mistake, stating: “Dindim definitely knows where he is going when he arrives at Ilha Grande, as he goes alone to the exact same spot in Mr. João’s backyard four years in a row.” In a later interview with CNN, Paulo Krajewski also addressed some misconceptions that arose after the event went viral. The most important aspect was that many claimed that Dimdim swam approximately 5,000 miles to reunite with João. It is not clear where Dimdim is going, but it is unlikely that he will make the long trek back to Patagonia.
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Where are João Perei de Souza and Dimdim now?
My penguin friend is poised to deliver an unforgettable film about friendship whose real-life inspirations offer heartwarming inspiration. But since the events took place in 2011, there is some uncertainty about where João Pereira de Souza and Dimdim are now. The last update is from 2022 and says that Dimdim has not returned since 2018. João Pereira de Souza said he still expects his friend to return one day.
Since the duo hasn’t been reported on for two years and João Pereira de Souza will be 79 in 2024, their status is uncertain. However, we hope that the two have met again in the past two years or that the film will put them in the spotlight once again and spark renewed interest in the remarkable true story behind them. My penguin friend.
My penguin friend will be in cinemas from August 16, 2024.
