My Octopus Teacher
A burned-out diver finds renewal by patiently earning the trust of a curious wild octopus in South Africa's cold Atlantic kelp forest.
Overview
A breathtaking exploration of the bond between a man and a remarkable creature of the sea.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- meditative
- calming
- tender
- quiet evening
- nature watching
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the documentary as visually stunning and profoundly moving, combining remarkable marine observation with a personal story of healing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Craig Foster repeatedly visits the octopus in her den and tracks her behavior over many months.
Underwater photography captures camouflage, color, hunting, predators, and the dense kelp forest of the South African coast.
Foster's daily cold-water dives and relationship with the octopus are connected to his experience of burnout and personal renewal.
The octopus's curiosity, intelligence, vulnerability, and resilience become the basis for a reciprocal human-animal bond.
Films like My Octopus Teacher, and why
The Elephant Whisperers
meditative natural-history documentary, intimate human-animal connection, and emotionally restorative observation
March of the Penguins
visually immersive wildlife filmmaking paired with a tender, personal bond between humans and animals
Jane
reflective documentary portrait using close observation of animals to explore resilience, vulnerability, and human emotion
The Cove
calming ocean imagery, ecological wonder, and contemplative attention to marine life
Movie Details
- Directors
- Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed
- Release Date
- 2020-09-04
- Runtime
- 85 min
- Rating
- 7.9 / 10 (1089)
Cast
- Craig Foster
- Tom Foster
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is My Octopus Teacher about?
- A burned-out diver finds renewal by patiently earning the trust of a curious wild octopus in South Africa's cold Atlantic kelp forest.
- What is My Octopus Teacher like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of My Octopus Teacher as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is My Octopus Teacher violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in My Octopus Teacher as mild.
- What did critics think of My Octopus Teacher?
- Critics broadly praised the documentary as visually stunning and profoundly moving, combining remarkable marine observation with a personal story of healing.
- Which films are like My Octopus Teacher?
- Films with a similar feel include The Elephant Whisperers, March of the Penguins, Jane, and The Cove.
- How long is My Octopus Teacher?
- My Octopus Teacher runs 85 minutes.
- Where can I watch My Octopus Teacher?
- In United States, My Octopus Teacher streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
