Penguin Bloom : Movie Review


 Inspiration comes from the most unexpected places. Its remarkable how you draw lessons from various sources. They could be people, nature and in this case even a magpie. 

I stumbled upon this movie on Netflix which is apparently based on a real life incident and is adapted from a book. Set in Australia, Penguin Bloom tells the story of a family and how a mishap on a vacation changes their lives forever. We have Samantha aka Sam played by Naomi Watts-happily married to a lovable husband and is blessed with three sons. She loves the ocean and the outdoors. An unexpected fall from the roof on a holiday results in Sam being paralyzed from chest down. Understandably, Sam is depressed. A year later when her son brings home an injured Magpie, she befriends it gradually and learns to embrace life again. 

The story is told from the perspective of her oldest son Noah. Sam's listlessness evokes empathy, considering how she had been independent prior to her accident. She prefers to lie on her bed, feels terrible for not being able to be a good mom or do simple things without making a mess. When Noah brings an injured magpie, she feels annoyed at first. Eventually she gets drawn to it. They name it Penguin because of its black and white color. 

The incessant chirping of the bird draws Sam out of her cocoon ad comfort zone. Caring for Penguin makes Sam feel worthwhile and like a mum again. Penguin seems to understand her grief and pain. Folowing the footsteps of Penguin, Sam eventually ventures out and basks in the sunshine. She gradually finds solace in kayaking. Discovering the strength and power in her arms instills some confidence in Sam and she no longer feels like a burden. 

Penguin Bloom is emotional, heartwarming and inspiring. You cry with Sam when she feels helpless. You smile with her when she finds joy in the waters again. Your heart goes to to the little magpie that brings back Sam to life. The injured bird is a metaphorical representation of learning to not be stuck in one place and finding ways to spread your wings. Another aspect of the film focuses on how friendship transcends barriers. While this is not the first film portraying a camaraderie between man and animals/nature, the relationship between Sam and Penguin its endearing, nevertheless. It makes you realize that there is so much more to the world and life. That inspiration or kindness is just around the corner. You just have to look for it. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Heidi: Movie review

Image
I had read this classic by Johanna Spyri as a little girl. I won it as a prize along with my merit card when I was graduating from Primary to Middle School.  When I stumbled upon this on Amazon Prime, I was delighted. It always feels good to watch your favorite fictional characters on screen. Its often slated that the book is always better as it captures a lot more depth with regards to the plot and characters. However a couple of adaptations that I had seen in the recent past made a good watch. A couple of them ended up being a visual treat. One was The Call of the Wild which showcased the beauty of the Alaskan Wilderness. Another one was Heidi which exhibited the splendor of the snow clad Alps.  Heidi is the story of a young orphaned girl who is sent to live in the mountains with her rather eccentric grandfather-who is known as Alm Uncle by the villagers. Heidi manages to melt his heart as he develops an affection for her. She spends her carefree days in t...
Read more

100 meters : Movie Review

Image
Watched this inspiring Spanish film over the weekend on Netflix!  100 meters is a based on a true story of a man named Ramon who is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He is told that he will be able to even walk 100 meters in the next one year. Determined to prove this wrong, he takes up the challenge of doing the grueling Ironman race which involves 2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles biking and 26.2 miles running.  With the help of his father in law with whom he initially shares a shaky relationship with, he begins to train relentlessly. Ramon faces challenges on the way and is almost pushed to the brink of being bed ridden. He overcomes every hurdle with grit and a positive frame of mind. It remains to be seen if he actually finishes the race.  This movie struck a chord in many ways. A triathlon is not just a race-its a humbling journey which alters your life forever. The training period is especially a challenging one as it demands a lot out of you. The film showcases the i...
Read more

My friend Ganesha: Friendship with God

Image
-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=b7ab149a-5f35-4861-8859-6a890ddb71fe Loneliness often propels one to longingly seek a friend. Times like these often push us into a solitary stance or we find our solace in the road to spirituality striking an unspoken friendship with God. My friend Ganesha is one such film which depicts this divine friendship between a child and the elephant faced God and takes you down the mythological lane. The movie revolves around a family consisting of Ashu, his parents, aunt and the maid Gangubhai who places her sincere devotion in Lord Ganapathy. Ashu is a lonely child devoid of any friends and to top it all he is bullied by his counterparts at every given opportunity. To make matters worse, his parents who are caught up with the corporate lifestyles hardly spend time with him. One day he ends up saving a little mouse from the harsh rains. On sharing this with the maid, leaves her enthralled enough to tell him of being the...
Read more