Argentina, 1976; disillusioned English schoolteacher Tom Michell (Steve Coogan) arrives at St George’s College, a prestigious all-boys private school on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. It is a politically tumultuous era, with violence exploding on the streets; determinedly unruffled by the deteriorating situation, the school headmaster (Jonathan Pryce) insists upon maintaining an aura of calm and civility. During a weekend trip to Uruguay, Tom comes across a penguin on a beach, trapped in oil from a spill. Against his better judgement, Tom rescues the bird, whom he has named it Juan Salvador, nurses it back to health, and sneaks it back to Argentina where the penguin becomes an integral part of the school community and a novel prop in his teaching of English poetry to his newly enthusiastic young charges.

Notes by David O‘Mahony.