Set in 1976 Argentina during a time of political turmoil, the film follows Tom Michell, a disillusioned English teacher who takes a job at St. George’s College, an all-boys boarding school. While on a trip to Uruguay, he discovers an oil-slicked beach where he rescues a lone Magellanic penguin. This penguin, which he names Juan Salvador, becomes his companion and a source of joy for the students at the school. As Tom navigates the challenges of teaching in a politically charged environment, he also forms meaningful relationships with the school’s staff and students, learning valuable lessons about courage and compassion along the way.