Penguin Bloom: A Story of Unexpected Healing from a Magpie

Sam Bloom accidentally falls 20 feet from a hotel rooftop, leaving her paralyzed from the chest down. As she struggles to recover, a magpie becomes an unlikely source of comfort and healing. “Penguin Bloom,” a 2020 movie, is based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Cameron Bloom and Bradley Trevor Greive. Sam feels like a burden, a shadow of the woman she once was. Now confined to a wheelchair, she feels helpless and disconnected, no longer able to care for her children the way she once did.

Noah names the bird Penguin because of her striking black-and-white feathers, resembling a penguin. Sam doesn’t realize it at first, but caring for Penguin is helping her heal in unexpected ways. One afternoon, while trying to transfer onto the bed, Sam loses her balance and falls. Then, something incredible happens – Penguin flies for the first time. In that instant, Penguin gives the family something they desperately need – hope and joy. She reminds them, especially Sam, to never give up, no matter how hard the journey. Watching her take flight fills Sam with a renewed sense of possibility – for her healing, her future, and her family’s journey ahead.

Starring Naomi Watts, Andrew Lincoln and Griffin Murray-Johnston, “Penguin Bloom” was filmed in the Bloom family’s real home in Australia and is based on actual events. Sam Bloom later competed in the World Kayaking Championships and became a two-time World Adaptive Surfing Champion. This remarkable film is a testament to love, resilience, and the healing bond between humans and nature. Through Penguin’s presence, the Blooms find strength, hope, and the courage to embrace life again.