The resilient nature of penguins has been a source of inspiration for many filmmakers; from documentaries capturing their fascinating habits in March of the Penguins to their playful nature being turned comical in Happy Feet, audiences have certainly become endeared to the flightless birds. My Penguin Friend is set to capture the hearts of audiences when it releases in August, telling the story of an unlikely friendship between a penguin and a fisherman.
While penguin movies certainly know how to deliver an emotional story using the strength of the adorable birds, what makes My Penguin Friend an exciting story to be told on the screen is that it is based on a true story. We will look at the real-life friendship that inspired the heartfelt drama, and where the two are today.
My Penguin Friend Plot and Cast
Struggling through personal issues and heartbreak, a fisherman named João finds purpose and a means to navigate his issues when he rescues and cares for a Magellanic penguin caught in an oil spill. In this relationship, the fisherman finds a renewed purpose in life and a new friend. He names the penguin Dimdim and brings it into his family home despite protests from his wife. After nursing the charismatic creature back to health, João is devastated when, one day, his friend leaves. However, the penguin starts to return annually, capturing a heartwarming story about friendship.
My Penguin Friend stars Jean Reno as the troubled fisherman João. Reno is a veteran of the screen, and most will be familiar with him through his role in the cult hit Léon: The Professional where he played the titular killer, Leon. A true diverse talent, Reno has appeared in everything from the Rober De Niro-led gritty action thriller Ronin to the iconic caper comedy franchise The Pink Panther, where he played Ponton in the 2006 film. Adriana Barraza plays João’s wife, Maria. Viewers will recognize Barraza from her roles in films like Babel, Blue Beetle, and Drag Me to Hell. The cast is rounded out by Rochi Hernández, Nicolás Francella, and Alexia Moyano.
David Schurmann directed My Penguin Friend, which was his first film to achieve international attention before its release. However, Schurmann brings abundant experience, with a particular love of nautical stories, through his documentary work, making him an ideal fit. Filmed on the coasts of Brazil and Argentina, the movie offers scenic views under the cinematography of Oscar Award-winner Anthony Dod Mantle.
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The True Story Behind My Penguin Friend
While taking liberties to create a cinematic work, My Penguin Friend is heavily based on the true story of a retired Brazilian bricklayer, João Pereira de Souza and his meeting with Dimdim. The two’s meeting in 2011 was already a chance encounter with the Magellanic breed of penguin normally found on the Patagonia coasts of Argentina and Chile, three to five thousand miles away from where they met.
Already a remarkable event that saw João and Dimdim become local celebrities in their village located just outside of Rio de Janeiro, the two became a global phenomenon after an interview was done with João Pereira de Souza by Biologist Joao Paulo Krajewski for Globo TV. The story of the unlikely friendship, the love that João expressed for Dimdim, and his kind words led to the piece gaining international coverage and going viral.
“I love the penguin like it’s my own child and I believe the penguin loves me… No one else is allowed to touch him. He pecks them if they do. He lays on my lap, lets me give him showers, allows me to feed him sardines and to pick him up,” João Perei de Souza on Globo TV interview
Biologist Joao Paulo Krajewski believed that Dimdim even went as far as to see João as another penguin. He assured the public that their annual meetings were no mistake, stating, “Dindim definitely knows where he is going when he arrives at Ilha Grande, since for four consecutive years he goes, by himself, to the very same spot in Mr. João’s backyard.” In a later interview with CNN, Paulo Krajewski also addressed some misconceptions after the event’s virality. The major aspect was that many were stating that Dimdim swam approximately 5,000 miles to reunite with João. Clarifying where Dimdim goes is uncertain, but it is unlikely he will make the long trek back to Patagonia.
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Where Are João Perei de Souza and Dimdim now?
My Penguin Friend is poised to deliver an unforgettable movie about friendship, with its real-life inspirations offering up heartwarming inspiration. But with the events taking place back in 2011, there is some uncertainty as to where João Pereira de Souza and Dimdim are now. The last update goes back to 2022, stating that Dimdim has not returned since 2018, with João Pereira de Souza saying that he still expects his friend to return one day.
Given that the duo has not been reported on in two years, and João Pereira de Souza will turn 79 in 2024, their status is uncertain. However, we hope that the two have met again in these past two years or that the film will shine a light on them once more and offer a renewed interest in the remarkable real-life story behind My Penguin Friend.
My Penguin Friend can be seen in theaters when it releases on August, 16th, 2024.
