Penguin Bloom

"The true story of an unlikely hero."

2021 1h 35m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 348

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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.

“The true story of an unlikely hero.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Naomi Watts
Sam Bloom
Andrew Lincoln
Cameron Bloom
Griffin Murray-Johnston
Noah Bloom
Felix Cameron
Rueben Bloom
Abe Clifford-Barr
Oli Bloom
Jacki Weaver
Jan
Rachel House
Gaye Hatfield
Gia Carides
Megan

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Glendyn Ivin
Writers: Shaun Grant, Harry Cripps
Languages: English
Countries: Australia, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 5 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Australia, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Glendyn Ivin, shot by Sam Chiplin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Marcelo Zarvos. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Maria Papoutsis shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln and Griffin Murray-Johnston carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The true story of an unlikely hero.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt6317656 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Glendyn Ivin directs. Sam Chiplin behind the camera. Marcelo Zarvos scores. Maria Papoutsis cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Australia, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 5 years ago.
2International production across 2 countries: Australia, United States of America.
3Directed by Glendyn Ivin, shot by Sam Chiplin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Marcelo Zarvos. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Maria Papoutsis shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln and Griffin Murray-Johnston carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "The true story of an unlikely hero.".
8IMDB entry: tt6317656 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Sam Chiplin
Original score: Marcelo Zarvos
Editing: Maria Papoutsis
Production design: Annie Beauchamp
Costume design: Joanna Mae Park
Makeup / hair: Ashley Johnson
VFX supervisor: Jason Hawkins
Sound: Chris Goodes
Runtime: 95 min · 1h 35m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Penguin Bloom (2021)

Also by

Glendyn Ivin

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Steve Parker2021-01-24
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.
SWITCH.2021-02-02
★ 7/10
'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

Production companies