I start off by by damning the very brilliant Manchester Film Festival.

Damn you very brilliant Manchester Film Festival ,for opening your 11th edition with a feature that was guaranteed to leave me a blubbering mess, but that I knew I’d have to bear witness to as I’m ‘doing it for the blog’. See also Theatre review – War Horse at the Lowry and Life of Pi – The Lowry.

Based on The Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling book, THE PENGUIN LESSONS is the captivating true story of the unlikely bond between an English teacher and a penguin.

The moment Tom Michell stepped on stage ahead of the screening, I could see Steve Coogan in the role. And when he spoke, I could see Steve Coogan in the role.

And so onto seeing Steve Coogan, Manchester’s own Steve Coogan, in the role.

Directed by Peter Cattaneo, the Penguin Lessons is a true story. There is poetic license required to bring a memoir from the pages of a book to a big screen, but very little of this relates to the actual one man and his penguin angle. This is true. Delightfully and wonderfully true.

Managing to combine a few tropes – man bonds with animal, man manages to cut through cultural and pupil/teacher barriers to reach and inspire young students, man does this against a backdrop of significant national unrest and turbulence in 1970s Argentina (granted that would be quite a niche trope but I was on a roll). – you might suggest that the formula requires some tweaking less it be too contrived.

But it’s true. Again, with some poetic license (mostly around adding in a brief romantic tryst and ageing teacher Tom MIchell to a man in his 50s rather than his 20s – a request from Coogan himself, so that he be able to play this part himself).

The film is as funny as it is moving. And I have to say, much of what lead my ‘being moved’ progressing into complete heartbreak, might be me-specific as I cried for absolutely no reason, just looking at that little penguin’s face. The penguin whose name cannot be uttered in my household, lest I start again.

Ok, let’s get it over with ‘for the blog’. It was briefly called Peter, but then became Juan Salvador. Juan Salvador the penguin.

And in the Q&A with writer, Tom Michell, it was clear that his emotion for this little penguin, was real, clearly moved when reflecting back on that time, some 50 years on.

Finding the cine-film in his loft at his Cornwall home, of Juan Salvador swimming in the school’s pool (I’m typing this with a wobbling lip ) – recreated in the film and, delightfully, shown before the end credits – Tom would tell his children the story of how he rescued this little orphaned penguin after finding him on a beach, the victim of an oil-slick.

The book, The Penguin Lessons, was first self-published on Kindle, persuaded by his late wife to share this incredible story with the wider world (thank you, Christine).

Picked up (no pun intended chocolate biscuit lovers) and catching the attention of noted Screenwriter and Producer, Jeff Pope, the rest, as they say, is history.

Watch it for

• Coogan’s incredible ability to display understated low-key incredulity and dry sarcasm in the most extreme of circumstances
• Jonathan Pryce’s turn as the strict headteacher – never was there finer foreshadowing than the line uttered to newly arrived teacher, Tom Michell: “no pets”.
• a glimpse into a turbulent period during Argentina’s history, and the true story of how the students of the school (many of which Tom Michell is still in touch with) were affected, and the wider horrors which affected the ordinary lives of Argentinians.
• the charming relationship not only between one man and his penguin, but all those who met him. Penguin led therapy needs to be on the NHS.

And if you’re worried it might be mawkish, I would say that to be mawkish is to add exaggeration and falsehood to a tale. The Penguin Lessons has its basis in truth and memories, and will teach you a thing or two about relationships, vulnerability, connectivity and friendship.

And, well, it’s just lovely, funny and firmly on the right side of twee. And you can’t ask for more than that from a film festival opener.

For full details of this year’s excellent line-up, visit https://www.manchesterfilmfestival.com/

For more information on The Penguin Lessons, see The Penguin Lessons (2024) – IMDb.

For details of The Penguin Lessons at Odeon Manchester Great Northern (and other good cinemas) head to https://www.odeon.co.uk/cinemas/manchester-great-northern/

More from Manchester Film Festival through the week…