An author describes the experience of seeing his book adapted into a film featuring Steve Coogan as an “extraordinary journey.” Tom Michell’s memoir, The Penguin Lessons, recounts his adventure in South America during the 1970s, where he rescued a penguin.
While walking along a beach in Uruguay, Mr. Michell, a former chemistry teacher from Cornwall, encountered thousands of oil-covered dead penguins. He discovered one penguin still alive and decided to save it, which involved bringing it back to Argentina after an unsuccessful attempt to release it in Uruguay.
The film adaptation of Mr. Michell’s memoir is directed by Peter Cattaneo, known for The Full Monty, and features performances by Steve Coogan and Sir Jonathan Pryce. The author noted, “We were set to begin filming in 2019, but then Covid intervened, halting the project. During the lockdown, Steve read the book and expressed his desire to be involved, which I was thrilled about.”
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In an interview with BBC Radio Cornwall, he shared, “I met Steve in Barcelona, and I was impressed by his dedication and talent as an actor. Watching the film’s production was enjoyable; it felt like a well-organized military operation. This has truly been an extraordinary journey—one could almost write a book about it!” The film is scheduled for release in theaters on April 18.
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