Beflügelt: Ein Vogel namens Penguin Bloom

While Glendyn Ivin's based-on-a-true-story 'Penguin Bloom' often falls into run-of-a-mill territory of those family dramas about overcoming physical and mental struggles, the film succeeds in engaging the emotions, both in times of overbearingness and those of joy and ambition. Naomi Watts delivers a strong, impactful performance with the rest of the cast is made up of strong performers but have little things to do. In addition to the performances, the cinematography and background score are great and ties the movie together.

A tragic story turned awe-inspiring, surrounded by love... love of family, love of nature, love of, yes, a bird. Loved it!

I feel the critics are far off the bat with this one. Perhaps they have not been invested in this magical experience like those of us who have grown watching this story.

I've been following Penguin Bloom on Instagram for years now, since Penguin was still with the Bloom family.

This film captures this family's story well. Ignore the critics and those without the context.

A beautiful film.

I'm a para, like Sam Bloom in the movie. About the same level, too--T6 ,T8. But not as a result of the same sort of accident. I've been in a chair a little longer, going on 33 years now. I've found movies depicting disability of one kind or another usually contrived but this one was refreshingly not so and rang true to me. At least for folks like Sam and I with paraplegia. I have many friends that are quadriplegics, and they do not share the same abilities that we do. Despite that, dealing with a major disability when you have a family (I had 2 kids, ages 3 and 1 when my illness struck) is hard. Luckily family and a few good friends helped me move on, and so did my old Lab, Rocky, along with my love for the water and sports. So this movie hit home for me. Hopefully those who watch it will never suffer similar circumstances as Sam or I have endured, but if you live long enough you'll probably have someone close to you that will. The movie tells a good story about the hurdles and triumphs we all face at one time or another, If you find the movie boring, well, watch it again. In 20 years...

An enjoyable little film based on a true story, don't know what the bad reviewers were expecting? It's not an action film, just a heartwarming little story of how a rescued magpie helps a family come to terms with the devastating accident suffered by the Mother, and in turn helps her to begin enjoying life again. If nothing else does, the magpies will entertain you, Naomi Watts is her usual reliable self, with a perfectly competent supporting cast. Goes along at a casual pace which puts you in there with the family. I liked it, as has everyone I know who's seen it!