TIFF 2020: Penguin Bloom
tiff 2020Penguin Bloom is a delicate paint-by-numbers Australian melodrama helped along by a stunning performance by Naomi Watts and a fleet of magpies. The film follows the Bloom family, an adventurous bunch of boys and their athletic mother, Sam (Watts). While most parents would take their children on a vacation to Disney World, Sam and her husband, Cameron (Andrew Lincoln) bring their boys to Thailand, a decision that will alter the course of the Bloom family’s lives. The eldest brother, Noah (Griffin Murray-Johnson) shows his parents a rooftop which Sam falls from after leaning on a crumbling railing. Fortunately, she lives but is paralysed from the chest down and confined to a wheelchair. As Sam struggles with her new-found identity, an injured magpie joins the Bloom family, affectionately known as Penguin.
While the film lacks creativity in its screenplay and hits a number of traditional dramatic tropes, Penguin Bloom is actually based on the true story of the Bloom family, as Cameron Bloom wrote a book based on their experiences with Bradley Trevor Grieve. The truthfulness of the film excuses its straightforward story beats, such as destruction in a fit of anger as Sam breaks the glass frames of photographs taken before the accident, or how Noah blames himself for his mother’s fall since he was the one who brought her to the rooftop. Penguin serves as the unbelievable catalyst that helps Sam come to terms with her new life. Both of them are broken. Penguin is unable to fly and Sam is unable to use her legs. Penguin needs to be taken care of and Sam feels like she’s lost her ability to be a good mother because she struggles to keep up with her three young sons. From Penguin’s arrival, it’s pretty obvious that Sam helps the magpie in order to grow herself, as their stories are parallels to each other. However, because of its realism, Penguin Bloom maintains some uniqueness and avoids completely delving into another typical film about overcoming change.
The film’s production design also helps bring about Penguin Bloom’s realism. Director, Glendyn Ivin and cinematographer, Sam Chiplin work together to bring about the beauty of Thailand and Australia. The brilliant landscapes showcase the Bloom family’s love for the outdoors and sport. They also highlight Sam’s gloominess and Noah’s guilt. The world around Sam and Noah hasn’t changed, and most of their family members have been able to adjust to their new situation. The sunny scenery shines a light on their emotional differences, showing the viewer why others can’t seem to understand how Sam and Noah are feeling, making the performances by Watts and Murray-Johnson much more impactful.
It’s the acting by Naomi Watts and Griffin Murray-Johnson that elevate Penguin Bloom. Murray-Johnson’s role is centred around showing the perspective of the Bloom children, as his Noah’s brothers are too young to grasp how their mother’s accident has changed their lives. Murray-Johnson gives a breakthrough performance and does much of the storytelling throughout Penguin Bloom. As Noah, he provides narration about his mother’s accident while articulating why he feels guilty about Sam’s accident. Watts and Lincoln were able to consult with the real-life Bloom family; the pair show beautiful chemistry, proving that Sam and Cameron are soulmates. Lincoln is always caring and understanding as Sam’s husband, patience always seen on his concerned face as he takes on more familial responsibilities. But it is Naomi Watts who holds Penguin Bloom together with her star performance as Sam.
While named for the injured magpie, Penguin Bloom is obviously Sam’s story. Penguin, the magpie, just serves as the catalyst that brings Sam to accept her new self. Watts gives a stunning performance, showing a range of emotions such as anger, pain, understanding and forgiveness, as Sam is forced to face her and her family’s new reality. In a more inventive film, it’s likely that Watts’ performance would be an awards season contender. It is also her performance that keeps the film away from ableism. Of course, with the accident throwing such a wrench in her life, Sam is quite unhappy with her loss of movement, but Watts is able to gently guide Sam’s character towards acceptance as she learns to live with her new normal. While Penguin Bloom’s flight path is predictable, a shining performance from Watts makes for a compelling family drama.