Watch Penguin Bloom

Penguin Bloom is a heartwarming drama film from 2020, directed by Glendyn Ivin and starring Naomi Watts, Andrew Lincoln, and Griffin Murray-Johnston. The movie is based on a true story about a family's journey towards healing after a tragic accident. The story follows the Bloom family, Sam (Andrew Lincoln) and his wife Cameron (Naomi Watts), who are raising their three young boys in Australia. One day, while on a vacation in Thailand, an accident occurs and Cameron is left paralyzed from the waist down.

The family struggles to cope with the sudden loss of mobility and the overwhelming changes that come with it. They try various therapies to help Cameron adapt to her new life, but nothing seems to be working.

One day, a mischievous wounded magpie bird for whom the family names Penguin enters their lives, and everything changes. The bird becomes a symbol of hope and a great companion for Cameron, who starts to develop a special bond with the bird. The little bird helps to restore hope to the broken family and helps them to appreciate the beautiful things in life.

As time goes on, Cameron becomes stronger and realizes that she can still experience life to its fullest, and love her family with all her heart, even though she's disabled. Not just that, but she also becomes a stronger advocate for disabled people everywhere.

Naomi Watts delivers a powerful performance as Cameron, capturing the emotional and physical challenges of paralysis through her expressions, movements, and dialogue. Andrew Lincoln is equally impressive as Sam, Cameron's loving and supportive husband, who struggles to take on the sudden pressures of being the sole breadwinner while looking after three young boys and a wife with new, complex needs.

But the standout star of the film is Penguin. Although the bird doesn't speak, as such, it communicates through its body language and vocal sounds. The production designers seamlessly blend real-life footage of the bird, portrayed by Poppy Dowell, with CGI enhancements to make it look as realistically lifelike as possible.. It's a remarkable and poignant performance that will leave viewers moved.

The movie focuses on Cameron's journey of healing and acceptance, exploring the themes of resilience, hope, love, and overcoming adversity. It's a touching and inspiring story that highlights the strength of family bonds and the healing power of the natural world.

The cinematography is superb, showcasing the stunning landscape of Australia's beaches and forests, as well as the bustling city streets of Sydney. The film's score by Marcelo Zarvos is also noteworthy, adding a sense of emotional depth and beauty to the visuals.

Overall, Penguin Bloom is a must-watch film, especially for those who are struggling with the unexpected and the hardships that come as a result, and who need hope and healing to move on. Its moving message that, no matter what life throws at us, love, perseverance, and hope always triumph over sorrow, is one that has universal appeal.

Penguin Bloom is a 2021 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8 and a MetaScore of 54.