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My Octopus Teacher (2020)

2020 • 1h 25m • Documentary • TV-G
On September 30, 2026
#13565▲ 102
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candicetop on My Octopus Teacher

9/10 · Jan 4, 2026

This documentary is a remarkable achievement, presenting an uncomplicated idea in a way that becomes genuinely affecting and changes how you feel. It centers on South African filmmaker Craig Foster's daily visits to a frigid kelp forest outside Cape Town, where he develops a close, almost spiritual connection with a wild octopus. The film’s power lies in the way it combines incredible depictions of nature with a very personal story about exhaustion and recovery. His interactions with the octopus serve as an understated lesson: by observing her cleverness, fragility, and strength, Foster finds renewed wonder, calm, and a feeling of being connected to the environment around him. The film captures the animal with remarkable care, showcasing her ability to change colors, how she hunts, and moments of play that seem like carefully planned scenes rather than typical wildlife filming. From a cinematic perspective, it's truly outstanding. The underwater photography transforms the kelp forest into an ethereal space filled with light and movement, and the editing creates a calm flow that makes one small area feel as grand as any film about traveling the world. Ultimately, what stays with you is the emotional honesty: when the octopus’s life draws to a close, viewers share in the sadness Foster feels, and the film's heartfelt request for understanding and protection of the ocean resonates deeply.

Source on TMDB