My Octopus Teacher

I made time for two of this year's documentary Oscar nominees. They're both relatively short, lasting no more than an hour and a half, so it was easy. Here's the nature documentary My Octopus Teacher.

Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed chronicle South African diver Craig Foster as he explores a kelp forest near Cape Town. He makes a friend in an Octopus. Throughout a year, Foster builds up trust with the mollusk and documents her life. He sees how she moves around the ocean floor, how she camouflages herself from prey and predator and how she escapes certain death from hungry pyjama sharks. He grows attached to the Octopus (who goes nameless), but eventually, it comes to an end.

This is a relaxing movie. The underwater cinematography and serene music create a mesmerizing view of the ocean. We hear from Foster as to why he chose to go below the Ocean – where the water is around 45 degrees. His days are invigorated when the Octopus shows up. Indeed, the Octopus bonding with Foster is a captivating story. Her camouflaging and resourcefulness make for impressive feats. The other sea creatures are a spectacular assortment. What it’s missing is an IMAX screen.

My Octopus Teacher is ready for class on Netflix. You’ll learn quite a bit about sea life through one man's experiences. It's a good family-friendly documentary; it's only flaw is that it's sometimes too relaxing. Don't doze off or you'll miss some vital info. It's earned it's frontrunner status at the Documentary Oscar. My actual favorite of the nominees is the next film on the docket.