When I first clicked play on My Octopus Teacher on Netflix, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. The documentary, which follows a filmmaker and freediver’s unlikely friendship with an octopus, seemed intriguing, but could I really learn anything substantial from an octopus? This very skepticism, I soon realized, was the first lesson. How often do our preconceived notions, or simply what we think we know (or don’t know), prevent us from connecting with and learning from unexpected sources in the world around us? Before the documentary even began to unfold, I was already grappling with one of its central themes.
My Octopus Teacher isn’t just a nature documentary; it’s a deeply moving exploration of vulnerability and self-discovery. It’s a love story in the broadest sense, illustrating the beauty of embracing and adapting to a new environment. It shows us what happens when we relinquish the need for control and open ourselves up to the profound gifts – and even the pain – that come with genuine connection.
Craig Foster’s journey begins in the cold Atlantic waters of False Bay, near the “Cape of Storms” in South Africa, a place he’s been drawn to since childhood. Feeling lost and burnt out, Foster sought refuge in freediving in this challenging environment. He yearned to reconnect with the natural world on a deeper level, shedding the barriers between himself and the ecosystem. Through his experiences, particularly his extraordinary bond with a common octopus in the kelp forest, Foster unveils the invaluable lessons he learned by immersing himself in this wild, underwater world. He shares his journey of synchronization with the living ecosystem just beyond his doorstep, offering viewers a unique perspective on interspecies connection.
Foster reflects early in the documentary:
“A lot of people say that an octopus is like an alien, but the strange thing is, as you get closer to them you realize that we are very similar in a lot of ways.”
This quote is a powerful invitation to reconsider our perceptions of other species and recognize the shared aspects of life, intelligence, and emotion that may exist even in creatures vastly different from ourselves.
Craig Foster entered the Great African Sea Forest feeling depleted and disconnected, but emerged with a renewed sense of curiosity, engagement, and vitality. He rediscovered meaning and connection, realizing that the octopus mirrored his own intrinsic relationship with even the most untamed corners of our planet. As Foster eloquently states, “What she taught me is to feel that you are part of this place. Not a visitor. And that’s a huge difference.” This profound shift in perspective is a powerful message for us all. Imagine the positive impact on our world if we truly embraced the feeling of being an inseparable part of the living planet!
“What she taught me is to feel that you are part of this place. Not a visitor. And that’s a huge difference.”
Craig Foster
While not everyone has the Great African Sea Forest in their backyard, we all have access to nature in some form – a local park, a pond, trees lining a sidewalk. These are our opportunities to connect with the environment around us daily. Who will your teacher be? The film encourages us to remain open to the wonder and learning that surrounds us in the natural world. Ultimately, My Octopus Teacher suggests that the positive changes we seek in our lives and in the world are fostered through connection and relationship – a lesson, perhaps, that the octopus was indeed trying to teach us.
Foster’s journey, guided by his octopus teacher, reminds us to look closer, to connect deeper, and to recognize the profound lessons that nature offers. Now, take the film’s advice: watch My Octopus Teacher and then step outside and explore the natural world waiting for you.
By: Madison Cooper, learns.edu.vn Educational Content Creator
Check out Sea Change Project (co-founded by Craig Foster) to discover more about the documentary and their broader mission of fostering meaningful engagement with nature through storytelling and science.
