On paper, you would think Netflix’s upcoming feature, “Penguin Bloom,” would be in the middle of the awards season discussion. The film stars Naomi Watts, who has turned in some truly great performances over her career. ‘Bloom’ is based on a captivating true story about one person’s recovery after a near-fatal accident. But yet, “Penguin Bloom” isn’t really in the conversation, after its lackluster debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.
As seen in the new trailer, “Penguin Bloom” stars Naomi Watts as Sam Bloom, a young mother that is paralyzed after a terrible injury. The film charts her recovery and her anguish as she has to come to terms with her situation as her world is flipped upside down. However, she gets back in good spirits thanks to Penguin, a small bird that she befriends.
In our review from last year’s TIFF, we weren’t completely sold on the film’s message. Our review said, “’Penguin Bloom’ spends most of its runtime focusing on the ways in which Sam’s accident renders her less than…Watts certainly makes that internal struggle compelling without resorting to overwrought physical transformation. But hanging onto her able-bodied self as an aspirational image makes no sense when, as the film’s ending title card informs, the real-life Sam would go on to compete in the World Kayaking Championships and become a two-time World Adaptive Surfing Champion. There’s little sense of her triumph over adversity in ‘Penguin Bloom,’ and it feels bizarre that director Glendyn Ivin would reduce this important element of her biography to a mere footnote.”
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So, yeah, there might very well be some issues with the film. In fact, “Penguin Bloom” currently sits at 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, which isn’t great. Nevertheless, the feature has Naomi Watts and tackles a very difficult subject. And for that, it probably requires a personal viewing before passing judgment.
Netflix is set to premiere “Penguin Bloom” on its platform on January 27. You can watch the trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
Based on the incredible true story, Penguin Bloom follows Sam Bloom (Academy Award® nominated Naomi Watts), a young mother whose world is turned upside down after a near-fatal accident leaves her unable to walk. As she learns to adapt to her new life, she finds hope in an unlikely hero, a small bird named Penguin.