My Octopus Teacher

My Octopus Teacher

After years of swimming every day in the freezing ocean at the tip of Africa, Craig Foster meets an unlikely teacher: a young octopus who displays remarkable curiosity. Visiting her den and tracking her movements for months on end he eventually wins the animal’s trust and they develop a never-before-seen bond between human and wild animal.

  • Released: 2020-09-04
  • Runtime: 84 minutes
  • Genre: Documentaries
  • Stars: Craig Foster, Tom Foster
  • Director: Philippa Ehrlich, James Reed
 Comments
  • Nikkiangel002 - 7 March 2024
    Two minds of this
    Never did I think I'd get attached to an octopus. It was fascinating to watch all of it. They are amazing creatures. I love all sealife docs and finding out more.

    But the ending irks me massively, the "doc maker" makes out this octopus changed his life and he was obsessed with her.

    I'm sorry... he used it to make a documentary. As fascinating as it is.

    If you're actually that attached you would have helped her. I loved this up until the last 15 minutes. And I get the whole "it's nature.... " blah. But if it was me. And I felt as passionate as he "did".

    For all we know he's followed multiple animals there and picked the best footage. For his film "he was never going to make"

    Really left a bad taste with me.
  • bobnjuls4 - 25 August 2023
    Surprising Emotional Realization of Existence
    My psychologist daughter in law suggested watching this, so my wife and I did exactly that. As many have said, WOW! Absolutely amazing storytelling of a special subject that makes you realize the shortness of existence and the value of the special things in your life. With that in mind, this said it all...after it ended my wife came over to me with tears in her eyes and said, "I love you so much." I teared up as we both realized how often we overlook the value of each other and the amazing things that are a part of our lives every day. The impact of this great story causes a profound impact that will, hopefully, never fade. Thank you for sharing a life changing story that impacted all of us tremendously.
  • sseberg - 22 March 2023
    My Octopus Teacher review by Most Fair
    My Octopus Teacher (MOT) is a documentary film featuring filmmaker Craig Foster (CF) and an octopus. The film is set around an ocean kelb forest and supposedly documenting the interactions between CF and the octopus.

    Unfortunately, there are not many positives or real learnings to achieve by watching this movie. The main focus is the self pity of a filmmaker, not how he was influenced by nature or what it taught him.

    As a documentary and/or movie MOT cannot be recommended, due to its lack of real content. I do hope CF learned something, because the average viewer won't from watching this film. Another tasteless Netflix production.
  • karinaahmedova - 16 July 2022
    Amazing documentary
    Never thought that I will feel strong sadness because of octopus. I feel now they are like ocean dogs. The story is so deep with emotions and feelings. Very much recommended.
  • scocasso - 21 March 2022
    I really liked this movie
    As with most movies, I have to be in the right mood to watch them. I can't sit through a mindless action film if I'm looking for something dramatic or funny, for example. This, is a documentary following a man who is in a deep depression and a rut and cannot seem to find a way out. He decides to start swimming. The ocean is very cold, but he decides he wants to swim naturally, without any diving gear. He slowly acclimatizes his body to the cold waters. One day, he sees an octopus.

    I seem to recall that during this near obsession with swimming every day, his wife became impatient with him and eventually she seems to have completely disappeared from his life. I thought she must have left him. Later, from interviews with him and his wife, it seems that was not the case, they are still together, but it sure comes across like this in the film to me.