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My Octopus Teacher

Play trailer Poster for My Octopus Teacher 2020 1h 25m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 43 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A diver swims with an octopus that lives in a kelp forest off the coast of South Africa.
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My Octopus Teacher

My Octopus Teacher

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Critics Consensus

A heartwarming look at the way a meaningful bond can transcend just about any barrier, this documentary will leave you asking your friends to come and see My Octopus Teacher with you.

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Critics Reviews

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Pippa Bailey New Statesman 05/12/2021
Must we view an octopus as a friend, a saviour, a teacher? Couldn't we simply settle for not eating them? Go to Full Review
Peter Travers ABC News 04/23/2021
You'll laugh and cry your eyes out as an emotionally bruised diver learns about life and loyalty from an eight-tentacled mollusk. This Oscar favorite and viral sensation is the year's most unorthodox and unforgettable love story. Go to Full Review
Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting 03/29/2021
4/5
Is this octopus so extraordinary, such a miracle of the natural world, that we're going to believe this redemption tale? And the answer is: yes, it is. Go to Full Review
Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 08/17/2022
4/5
“My Octopus Teacher” is a beautiful, moving, and reflective experience. It’s also a little crazy and doesn’t do much to hide its aggressive tugs on your heartstrings. Go to Full Review
Dan Bayer Next Best Picture 05/13/2022
8/10
While this approach leaves the human element of the film's story often feeling like a bit of an afterthought, it still manages to garner an emotional response through the intimacy and purity of its story. Go to Full Review
Robin Holabird Robin Holabird 05/03/2022
Foster’s approach avoids sentimentality and enhances both understanding and appreciation. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Roddy 05/06/2021 Love this film, one of the best nature docs ever made. See more Judith S 05/01/2021 Wonderful photography touching story of a man learning to a love because of an octopus. See more Jun 5 Great story with just enough educational content to make it worthwhile. See more Toria S Mar 21 This is an excellent piece of work! See more rebel g Mar 15 i wanna live with herrr😭🩵 See more Tilman G Feb 27 My Octopus Teacher aims to show a profound connection between humans and nature, but the movie remains a difficult experience for many viewers to access. The story becomes cumbersome due to long, sometimes unnecessary scenes and the already esoteric narrative style. For some, the mixture of documentary and personal experience may be interesting, but for others it seems rather strange and less captivating. Overall, the movie remains too bizarre and not entirely successful. See more Read all reviews
My Octopus Teacher

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Movie Info

Synopsis A diver swims with an octopus that lives in a kelp forest off the coast of South Africa.
Director
Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed
Producer
Craig Foster
Screenwriter
Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed
Production Co
Off the Fence, The Sea Change Project, A Netflix Original Documentary
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 7, 2020
Runtime
1h 25m
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