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Penguin Bloom

323 votes

Producing House

When an unlikely ally enters the Bloom family's world in the form of an injured baby magpie they name Penguin, the bird’s arrival makes a profound difference in the struggling family’s life.

movie

Status: Released

Released Date: 2021-01-21

Runtime: 95 mins

Director: Glendyn Ivin

Spoken language: English

Genres: Drama

Original title: Penguin Bloom

Production Companies: Made Up Stories, Broadtalk, Jam Tart Films, Endeavor Content, Screen Australia, Create NSW

Production Countries: Australia, United States of America

Reviews

m

maketheSWITCH
'Penguin Bloom' is a good tear-jerker based on a true story; it's another film along with 'The Dry' that proves Australia is capable of making strong movies showcasing great talent in front of and behind the camera. Grab some tissues and someone you can hug, and go see 'Penguin Bloom' in cinemas! - Chris dos Santos Read Chris' full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-penguin-bloom-an-inspiring-true-aussie-film
2021-02-02

s

steveinadelaide l
A lovely family movie with a straightforward, inspiring, uplifting story. Based on the true story of Sam Bloom who was paralysed from the chest down following a fall from the roof of a building when holidaying in Italy with her family. Naomi Watts, who plays Sam, brings her experience as an actor to the story along with, of course, the trainer of the magpies who starred in the movie (ten of them!). Watts does a great job of portraying the physical and emotional impact of paralysis and there are some heart-rending scenes where she struggles with her new life along with her husband and children. The kids in the movie do a great job of playing authentic children, especially the one who introduces Penguin to the family. The film is beautifully photographed and the magpies, who play Penguin, are brilliant. They steal the show every time they are on screen. My one criticism of PENGUIN BLOOM is that it doesn’t tell us enough about the past and present of Sam Bloom, leaving that to a few facts at the end of the movie. While this is, in my view, a family film, it does have a few themes that might be difficult for young children, so parents may want to see it first before watching it with their younger kids. PENGUIN BLOOM, based on the book of the same name, is an old-fashioned movie and avoids sentimentalism and sappiness. Delightful.
2021-01-24

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