Latest news with #PeterCattaneo
Washington Post
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
‘The Penguin Lessons' offers accidental lessons of its own
The British do cozy cinematic whimsy like few others, and Peter Cattaneo has directed more than his share, starting with 'The Full Monty' in 1997 and sloping off gently from there. His latest, 'The Penguin Lessons,' shares with his 2019 drama 'Military Wives' the challenge of fashioning an uplifting, audience-friendly silk purse out of the sow's ear of the world's political complexities. When it works, it works, but in the new film it doesn't work as often as it needs to.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
If 'The Penguin Lessons' could commit to earnestness or comedy, it'd be great
'The Penguin Lessons' is more than a silly film about flightless birds. Directed by Peter Cattaneo, the film is adapted from Tom Michell's 2016 memoir of the same name. Delving into Argentinian politics, grief and growth, while the film had room to explore these themes, it remains somewhat lighthearted — which is where it falls short. Perhaps the film would've been better off had it remained truer to the book, which is about a young Michell in his 20s, rather than focusing on Michell in his late 50s. By using older casting, an attempt is made to tackle some of the harsh realities that were happening at the time in 1976 Buenos Aires. Despite this shift in age — the film still didn't embrace tough topics as much as it could have, nor did it lean into the comedic aspects whole heartedly enough. Instead, the movie kind of meanders somewhere in the middle. As Tom Michell exits his taxi to begin his new job at St. George's College as an English teacher, he's greeted by some graffiti that states 'Montoneros en la lucha contra los fascistas bastardos,' Montoneros in the fight against the fascist bastards. This, along with an explosion in the background, introduces signs of political unrest that surrounded the Dirty War, when Argentina's military dictatorship went after suspected left-wing political opponents from 1976 to 1983. Michell is disinterested in all that when he begins teaching, keeping to himself, doing the crossword and taking naps while teaching and coaching Rugby. One day, he is convinced by a woman he's trying to impress to rescue a Magellanic penguin from an oil slick on a beach in Uruguay. This penguin won't leave him alone, so he brings him back to school with him. Eventually, everyone embraces the penguin — who is named Juan Salvador after 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' — he becomes the school mascot of sorts and inspires Michell to really try to make an impact with the students. At the same time, Sofía, a maid at the school, is kidnapped and Michell feels an obligation to help her and her grandmother. Steve Coogan's acting was the saving grace of the film. He portrays Michell with such ease, it felt as though one was watching a documentary instead of a fictionalized memoir. Coogan has a witty and dry sense of humor and expressiveness to him that contrasts with Björn Gustafsson delight silliness and lighthearted delivery. Since the film did not lean into the gory details of the political state of Argentina at the time — aside from a final title card stating that an estimated 30,000 'Disappeared' people remain unaccounted for — I wish it had gone the other way and really embraced the comedic dynamic between Michell and his hopeless romantic colleague (Gustafsson). The two could've made a great buddy comedy. Honestly, the penguin ended up feeling like a third wheel. Great ★★★★★ Good ★★★★ Fair ★★★ Bad ★★ Bomb ★ Director: Peter Cattaneo. Cast: Steve Coogan, Björn Gustafsson, David Herrero. Rating: PG-13 for strong language, some sexual references and thematic elements. How to watch: In theaters Friday, March 28. Reach the reporter at Follow @dina_kaur on X, formerly known as Twitter. Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'The Penguin Lessons' review: Not enough drama or comedy
BBC News
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Manchester Film Festival: Everything you need to know
Manchester Film Festival is described as an annual celebration of storytelling through cinema and about 8,000 people are expected to started out in 2015 and is billed as the city's biggest celebration of the best new and independent than 150 films will be screened at the north of England's largest film festival with highlights including HILL, a documentary about Formula 1 champion Damon Hill followed by a Q&A session with the racing legend. Here is everything else you need to know about the event. What is it? It is a celebration of independent cinema featuring films from renowned directors and actors to lowbudget world premieres from filmmakers just starting out in the festival is both a BAFTA qualifying festival for British short films and BIFA qualifying for shorts and will bring filmmakers and film lovers together to showcase 45 feature films, including 15 UK premieres and four world premieres, Q&A sessions as well as putting the spotlight on some of the best up and coming filmmakers from the north-west of England. When is it and where? The festival takes place from 14-23 is being held at venues in Manchester city centre. The majority of the events are held at the Odeon Great Northern but the festival opens at the Aviva Studios, with the UK's first public screening of The Penguin Lessons, directed by British filmmaker Peter Cattaneo and starring Steve are also events being staged at HOME for the first time. Why was it set up? Festival director Neil Jeram Croft founded it 10 years ago after he produced and starred in his own film and said more could be done to help those starting out in the said there was a "gap" in the market and there was no film festival in Manchester so he decided to set his own up."I wanted to make it a great experience for other filmmakers setting out and make them feel special," the 44-year-old said it had "grown massively" in the last decade and focused heavily on audiences as well as filmmakers now. What are some of the highlights? The Penguin Lessons, based on the best-selling memoir and starring Steve Coogan., tells the poignant and inspiring story of an Englishman's personal and political awakening during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history, brought about by his unlikely adoption of a a documentary on how Damon Hill defied the odds and overcame tragedy to step out of his father's shadow and become a Formula 1 racing legend in his own right. It is directed by BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Alex Holmes. A world premiere of Departures. In the aftermath of a toxic relationship, Benji is trapped in a spiral of addiction and fleeting hook-ups. As he stumbles through visiting the places he visited with his ex, he is forced to confront his - a coming of age Sci-Fi directed by Jessica Vogt.A film by Burnley-born Jack Hartley, a Peaky Blinders star turned director, Humble Pie, shot in Audenshaw, is also being shown. Do I need tickets? Yes, you need to buy tickets or passes for the events. A full programme of events and ticket information can be found on the Manchester Film Festival website. Is it family-friendly? Most of the films are rated as 15 or 18 with age certifications for each film included in the listings on the festival's website. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
