PENGUIN BLOOM

Australia/UK, 2020, 95 minutes, Colour.
Naomi Watts, Andrew Lincoln, Griffin Murray- Johnston, Jackie Weaver, Rachel House, Leeanna Walsman, Lisa Hensley, Gia Carides, Abe Clifford- Barr.
Directed by Glendyn Ivin.

Penguin Bloom is a film that most audiences would enjoy seeing. It is based on a true story – with a fine culmination for those not familiar with the story of the characters. It is set in Sydney, along the coast with its beaches. It is a story about a family, joy, tragedy, and some inspiration for hope. And, one of its central characters, and an emblem, is a wounded magpie who is nicknamed Penguin. (The Australian classification is PG, with the advice: mild themes and coarse language – but, presumably this means mild coarse language, but this reviewer did not hear any!)

We are introduced to the Bloom family by the oldest of three sons, Noah, a more introspective type than his two younger brothers who are raucous-personified! He begins to tell the story of his parents, their friendship since childhood, their marriage, surfing and the sea, their children, and their time together during a holiday in Thailand.

But, very early in the film, we learn that the mother, Sam, has lent against a fence on a rooftop, some of the wood rotting, giving way, and her falling, and confined to a wheelchair. She is played, very convincingly, by Naomi Watts (who also went on a holiday to Thailand in the film, The Impossible, and experienced the disaster of the tsunami). Her husband is played by British actor, Andrew Lincoln, a stalwart of the television series, The Walking Dead. And Jacki Weaver is there as Sam’s fussy and tidying mother, over-emotionally worrying about her daughter. And the three boys.

While the family live in a comfortable beachside house, that can be little comfort when one is confined to a wheelchair, confined to the house, unwilling to move outside, preoccupied with the injury and daily pain, and the danger of indulging in self-pity. Cam, Sam’s husband, a photographer, does his best to deal with the daily tasks, the boys’ lunches, getting them off to school… But Sam is unwilling to go outside.

Then Noah finds a wounded magpie, brings it into the house, the boys trying to work out a name, Noah choosing Penguin. Clearly, the wounded Penguin becomes an evident symbol for Sam, their wounds, their confinement, and the question has to be, what is their fate.

It is Penguin who brings Sam out of herself, Noah asking his mother to take care of the bird while he is at school. Initially unwilling, and just calling her Bird, and Penguin causing mischief. Sam has to rescue Penguin from being trapped in spilt honey (the family have bees and produce honey). And so begins a bond, and the parallels between Sam and Penguin emerge.

Part of the joy of the film is Cam’s wonderful idea to suggest that Sam take up kayaking. She loved water, has strength in her upper body and arms. And part of the joy for the audience is getting to meet Gaye, Rachel House, a genial, wonderfully friendly, trainer for the kayaks, making demands on Sam, even testing her by telling her to fall into the water and use her arms for swimming. Of course, this will be Sam’s salvation, and more – as happened in real life.

But, what about Penguin? Recovering, the possibility of being able to fly, the need to break free, whether she would return to the house familiarity, finding her own independence and new life?

It is good to see photos of the actual family during the final credits, especially Sam herself and her achievement, and seeing that the family was very much involved in the production of the film. Director, Glendyn Ivin, has built up a strong reputation for directing television programs and series. And a great compliment to the magpie trainers and handlers (the cast list has the name of magpies!).


1. The story? Audience knowledge of the characters or not? Sarah Bloom, her injury, her later sports achievement?

2. The family contributing to the making of this film, Cameron Bloom cowriting the book, the family serving as producers, advisers?

3. The title, the focus on the magpie, Noah calling her Penguin?

4. Noah’s initial voice-over, description of the family, relationships, the trip to Thailand? The visualising of the trip, the family enjoyment, activities, sport and the water?

5. The filming of the background, Sarah and Cam, knowing each other from their childhood years, Cam as a photographer, Sarah as a nurse, the three boys and their growing up, rowdy?

6. Thailand, the accident, the initial suggestions, the rotten wood, Sarah’s fall? The later visualising of the accident, of Sarah falling, of her on the ground?

7. The family, the scenery, the beaches and cliffs, the water?

8. The consequences of the accident, Sarah in the wheelchair, no feeling in her legs? Her psychological state? Suppressed anger? Self-pity, morose? Staying at home, in the dark? Feeling she was nothing, not able to act as mother? The growing frustration, inability to move, the breaking of the honey jar…?

9. Cameron, loving husband, getting the boys ready for school, dropping them, helping Sarah, turning her, helping her with the chair? Meals? His photography work – and the bickering family?

10. Sarah’s mother, visits, tidying up, fussing? The outing for the meal with Kylie? The walk, the encounter with Bron – and Sarah not wanting to see her, Bron leaving the food?

11. Noah finding the magpie, wounded? Bringing it home, caring for it, the names, Penguin? Sarah calling it just bird? Saying that it had to be eventually freed?

12. The parallels between Sarah and Penguin, the evident comparisons, throughout the film? Injury, isolation, being tended, unable to fly…?

13. Noah asking his mother to look after Penguin, her care, growing attached, Penguin in the honey and her washing and drying it, something of a transformation, her going outside? Penguin and the attack by the two magpies?

14. Cameron and his desperation, struggling, Sarah not wanting him to ask how she was?

15. Cameron and his idea of the kayak, Sarah and willing, venturing out, meeting Gaye? Gaye and her enthusiastic personality? Advice to Sarah, in the kayak, arm muscles, rhythms, asking her to fall in the water, reluctance, swimming? The continued practice?

16. The birthday, celebrations, the meal, Sarah and her friends, Gaye, her mother? The tension in her mother expressing all the fears, the what if, addressing Cameron, as if Sarah was not present?

17. Penguin, the bonding with Noah, the bonding with Sarah, attempts at flying, eventually flying away? The family searching in the rain?

18. Sarah, the photos of athletic days, her smashing them? Noah and his wanting to put them together? Noah and his video? His blaming himself, responsible for the trip to the tower, on the roof? Feeling his mother blamed him? Her looking at the video, the reconciliation?

19. The other two boys, raucous, movement, jumping, the trampoline, noise… The oysters, sick on the floor?

20. Noah, jumping, on the trampoline, transformation?

21. Penguin, the return, flying off free?

22. The subsequent information and photos, the family, Sarah and her sports achievements?