***SPOILER ALERT***
My Octopus Teacher, directed by Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed, was released on September 7, 2020, on Netflix — featuring filmmaker Craig Foster and his building, moment upon moment, of a relationship with an octopus in the ocean off the coast of South Africa.
I ended up watching the Netflix nature documentary upon recommendation from my Aunt. She lives in Pacific Grove on the Monterey Bay peninsula, where we’ve traveled to often and visited tidepools and local flora and fauna.
Table of Contents
Life Is Short
My Octopus Teacher showed me how quickly life passes by, the ticking ebb and flow of life’s many moments, like waves crashing. Each second never to be seen again, but with it, a renewing second to always follow.
We must take hold of each day, each opportunity, and protect ourselves from threats along the way.
All Things Are Connected & Important
In the beauty of the kelp forest where Craig Foster swims, we see an interconnected world of mystery and wonder; and even fear, loss, gain, and bounty. Animals come and go, live and die, and all are part of a great, continuing circle of life; predatory sharks, hunting octopus, foraging starfish, and more.
What role do you play in your corner of the world?
Octopus Are More Complicated Than Originally Thought
The octopus legs look like brain matter, and we learn in My Octopus Teacher that some of the octopus’ intelligence is carried in their eight tentacles. The tentacle arms can even regenerate, begging the question, what cells are in the animal’s makeup that allows it to restore and renew? We need to replicate the re-building process of that arm.
Life Is Best When You Share — A Lesson from My Octopus Teacher
At the end of the documentary, you see that Craig Foster continues to dive every day — but he doesn’t swim alone, finishing with a shot of him bringing others to experience his magical, underwater wonderland.
I’m reminded that when we see or find something beautiful and experience it personally, those experiences are genuinely magnified when we share our joy — lighting up others along the way.
When you have a spare 85 minutes, watch My Octopus Teacher for its insights and charm.
