The movie My Penguin Friend is a heartwarming story directed by David Schurmann. It shows the special bond between a fisherman and a penguin. The film is set in a small fishing village in Brazil, where João Pereira de Souza (played by Jean Reno) finds an injured penguin covered in oil. João takes care of the penguin, and they become very close friends. The penguin, even after being healed and returning to its home, keeps coming back to visit João. This touching story became famous worldwide, and the movie brings this beautiful tale to life by showing amazing coastal locations in South America.
Where was My Penguin Friend filmed?
The film was mostly shot in Ubatuba and Paraty, Brazil, to show the real places where this true story happened. Some scenes were also filmed in Patagonia, Argentina, where many penguins live. The main shooting of the movie started in September 2022 and ended on November 11, 2022. Later, a smaller team went to Patagonia to film extra scenes with penguins, and they finished this by January 2023.
Ubatuba, Brazil
Ubatuba is a beautiful village in São Paulo, Brazil. It became one of the main places where My Penguin Friend was filmed. This village is similar to Proveta, the real-life fishing village where João Pereira de Souza lived. Ubatuba has lovely beaches with golden sand, clear blue water, and thick tropical forests. The filmmakers wanted the story to look real, so they chose Ubatuba because of its natural beauty.
In Ubatuba, they used visual effects to show scenes where the penguin is alone in the wild. For this, they used water tanks, blue screens, and special sets. The team filmed for about seven weeks in Ubatuba, with four cameras working at different locations, both in the water and on land. The weather was sometimes tough, but they worked hard to finish the scenes.
Paraty, Brazil
Paraty is a small town in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was another filming location for My Penguin Friend. Paraty is famous for its old Portuguese-style buildings and colorful houses. In the film, we see João and the penguin walking through the village streets, and Paraty’s charming cobbled streets and bright doorways are shown in these scenes.
Director David Schurmann, who is from Brazil, was happy to film the movie in his home country. He worked with a team of international experts but also made sure to include real local people. He said, “The faces you see in the movie are real fishermen from the community.” This made the movie even more special and real.
Patagonia, Argentina
After most of the filming was finished in Brazil, a smaller team of about 15 people, along with 60 local actors, went to Patagonia in Argentina to shoot extra scenes. In Patagonia, they filmed a colony of nearly one million Magellanic penguins, which is where the real-life Dindim, the penguin, belongs.
Patagonia is a beautiful region at the southern tip of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile. It has snow-covered mountains, deep valleys, and dry deserts. The filmmakers wanted to capture the natural beauty of this place and show the home of Dindim and other rare animals like the Patagonian cavy, guanacos, and elephant seals.
The Penguins and Their Care
Ten Magellanic penguins were used in the movie. These penguins were rescued by the Ubatuba Aquarium, the same place that took care of the real Dindim. These penguins were given a special enclosure on set, complete with a saltwater pool. They were well taken care of, with food and comfort, and only filmed for a few hours each day.
In some scenes, animatronic penguins (robots that look like penguins) were also used. One of the real penguins, named Maui, became the star of the movie. Maui was very comfortable with the actors, and in one scene, he even sits on a sofa while Jean Reno pets him.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) – My Penguin Friend
Q: Where was My Penguin Friend filmed?
A: My Penguin Friend was filmed in several beautiful locations. A: The main filming took place in Ubatuba and Paraty, Brazil, which represented the real-life fishing village where João Pereira de Souza lived. Some scenes were also shot in Patagonia, Argentina, to capture the natural habitat of Magellanic penguins.
Q: When was My Penguin Friend filmed?
A: The filming of My Penguin Friend began in September 2022 and continued until November 11, 2022. Afterward, a smaller crew went to Patagonia to shoot additional scenes with penguins, and this was completed by early January 2023.
Q: What is the release date of My Penguin Friend?
A: My Penguin Friend was released on August 16, 2024.
Q: Who is in the cast of My Penguin Friend?
A: The movie stars Jean Reno as João Pereira de Souza, the fisherman who forms a unique bond with a penguin. The film also includes a talented international cast, and some local fishermen from the Brazilian community were featured in the movie for authenticity.
Q: What is My Penguin Friend about?
A: My Penguin Friend tells the touching true story of a Brazilian fisherman, João, who rescues a penguin named Dindim, and the incredible friendship they develop. The penguin continues to travel back to visit João year after year, creating a deep connection that became known worldwide.
