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
  • guyvidal - 5 January 2023
    Exhilarating & Touching
    As far as the natural world is concerned, Craig Foster is the ideal human: he's gentle. He's curious, compassionate, noninvasive... and gentle. We need more human beings like Foster. To hear his voice crack as he describes the love an octopus can elicit from a human with her sheer curiosity, innocence, playfulness... made me unable to choke back my tears. Craig Foster dives year round without a suit in water so cold it takes your breath away. But after a while the cold starts to energize him, breath life and energy into his body and clarity into his mind. He returns every day - it's addicting. It calms his mind and body down. It relaxes him. He forgets all his earthly troubles. He's completely at peace. This state of complete relaxation and gentleness is felt so keenly by all the creatures around him, from tiny mollusks to pajama sharks, that he merges with the life around him. The energy emanating from this gentle human creature co-opts the sharks, seduces the seals and otters who roll around with Craig. This is the in my opinion the best and only way to be human.
  • nowheregirl-296-201595 - 6 July 2022
    Wth....
    This was torture. Reminds me of that "bystander syndrome" where you see someone getting hurt and nobody steps in to help but has time to grab their phone and hit "record"... yea this is that documentary.

    This documentary bothered me on so many levels. This guy does nothing to help the octopus- let's her basically get eaten alive. He goes on about his love for her, touches her and holds her and has this "relationship". All I see is this poor animal show affection and get used by this man. Octopus are genius creatures, smarter than dogs. So, if you want to see a documentary where its borderline cruel and one sided this is for you.

    This man had no problems injecting himself into the animal kingdom and build this intimacy, but when she struggles and is getting attacked he does nothing but watch. You know this poor animal was thinking what the hell.... There's a part where he says he feels responsible too, well guess what he should feel guilty.

    So yea, this is supposed to be a touching film- but no... it's definitely not. You will be left wanting to kick this guy in the nuts.