My Octopus Teacher

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My Octopus Teacher

2020

1h 25m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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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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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Robin Holabird

Robin Holabird

05/03/2022

Foster’s approach avoids sentimentality and enhances both understanding and appreciation.

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Roddy

05/06/2021

Love this film, one of the best nature docs ever made.

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Judith S

05/01/2021

Wonderful photography touching story of a man learning to a love because of an octopus.

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Jun 5

Great story with just enough educational content to make it worthwhile.

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Toria S

Mar 21

This is an excellent piece of work!

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rebel g

Mar 15

i wanna live with herrr😭🩵

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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.

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Pippa Ehrlich

Director

James Reed

Director

Craig Foster

Self

Pippa Ehrlich

Writer

James Reed

Writer

Craig Foster

Producer

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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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