I have a friend who was an avid Sportswoman and had an incredibly active life until 7or so years ago due to a tragic sporting accident she lost use of her lower body muscle function and became paraplegic so she is now permanently confined to a wheel chair. I know quite a bit of her story of pain struggle and acceptance . She is a also a Mum like Sam Bloom in this movie. She has managed to raise a teenage son with the help of supportive friends and family and a wonderful assist dog . Recently her joy at extensive renovations to her home which she supervised to the last detail filled me with admiration and gratitude to know her.
This is possibly why I enjoyed this new Australian film "Penguin Bloom." so much and why I find some of the revues I've read so cynical and predictable. Why is it when a story as uplifting and well produced like this receives descriptions like mawkish and over sentimental,especially when it's based on true characters and true events .?
I posted my top 50plus Australian movies a few days ago and Penguin Bloom is now added to that list .
Glendyn Ivan was recently listed in The Sydney Morning Herald as one of Australia's most powerful and influential film, television and commercial directors and I can understand why after seeing "Penguin Bloom."
It would be simplifying the plot to say it's about a woman ,her family and a magpie that changes all their lives forever. The fact that the woman Sam Bloom played by one of our finest actresses Naomi Watts with great integrity, skill and honesty has lost her mobility and feels totally worthless to her family is the backbone of this story.
Her family devoted and supportive husband Cameron also beautifully performed by British actor Andrew Lincoln and her three young boys Noah, Rubin and Oli also feel the loss of their vital young Mum who has become isolated in her home and unavailable emotionally.
That's enough of the story no spoilers except to say all their lives are transformed when a baby magpie falls out of its nest and is rescued from certain death by young Noah Bloom and taken home and nurtured back to health.
Young actor Griffin Murray-Johnston, made his debut with the movie 'Penguin Bloom'
cast as eldest son Noah Bloom . Griffin is somewhere between 10 and 13 years and gives one of those astonishingly good child performances that amaze me and I'm in awe of the professionals who train and produce these great acting achievements from one so young. Griffin's brief resume gives the information that he has attended St Martin's in an invitational cross-age group for over four years. He has a keen interest in costume, character, role play and creative making. He has an inherent fascination with art and performance and brings a thoughtful, genuinely intuitive capacity to each and every role, that's perfectly obvious in this movie.
Now speaking of training the various amazing magpies that played Penguin at various staged their trainer was Paul Mander who trained 8 magpies and considers them among the most intelligent of birds, up there with the pelican. At least as smart as dogs or cats and surprisingly playful, even as adults.
"Their intelligence is much higher than predatory birds and their memory retention really stands out," he says from the Gold Coast, with warbles from an aviary in the background. "They pick up things very quickly and they remember things from the day before, which is a great training tool."
Special mention of two supporting roles Jackie Weaver as Sam's mum Jan ,always great to see Jackie on screen her although her character irritated me until she had a great dramatic dinner table scene that entailed a total change in behaviour. Also a lovely performance by Rachel House as Gaye Hatfield who befriends and assists Sam to transform and accept her new life. It's a tiny criticism but the screenwriters who wrote her entrance line "Hi nice to meet you I'm Gaye must have known that would cause giggles and comments from the audience.
The look of the film Penguin Bloom is stunning set in Newport with sweeping views of our beautiful Coastline and the local Bush and river locations nearby help make this film a joy to watch .
Unlike the 2019 film Palm Beach ,which had a similar setting but was extremely short on substance and just played homage to self indulgence Penguin Bloom has a heart and soul and I found it very entertaining and moving .
Based on the book by Cameron Bloom who I'm sure would be thrilled with the film adaptation which among its many Co Producers are his wife Sam Bloom and star Naomi Watts I urge everyone not to take any notice of some of luke warm reviews it's an insult on IMBD to rate this fine film only 6.7 . It's not IMBD's fault it's the fault of some silly "Professional " film critics who should research what movie audiences want and what they find entertaining instead of intellectualising every frame and word .
Review of Penguin Bloom
