‘The Penguin Lessons’: A Man, a Bird, and a New Perspective

A teacher comes to a boarding school to escape his past in this entertaining and deeply moving film.

Tom Michell (Steve Coogan) and his students, in “The Penguin Lessons.” Sony Pictures Classics

PG-13 | 1h 50m | Drama | 2025

Too often, filmmakers prioritize shock value over substance, leaving audiences with stories that feel empty despite their visual spectacle. Every now and then, a film emerges that manages to be both entertaining and deeply moving.