My Octopus Teacher

Nature is always teaching us something. This is best exemplified in the delightful documentary My Octopus Teacher, which I learned about from an interview that the nature filmmaker Craig Foster did for the radio program "Fresh Air” on National Public Radio. According to Foster, he was going through a period of work exhaustion and decided to halt his busy schedule by retreating to his childhood hometown on the shores of South Africa. There, he started free diving in the frigid waters off the Western Cape and, soon after, he encountered a female octopus (cephalopod) whose behavior mesmerized and enchanted him, to the point that he decided to let himself be taught (as he put it) by this creature. His daily dives, over a period of a year, made him familiar to the octopus, who one day rewarded him with an unexpected gesture: she inched toward Foster and unfolded one of her arms onto his hand, playfully latching on with her suckers. This unanticipated acknowledgment left Foster astonished, reminding him of the deep connection that exists between humans and the natural world and impressing him with the duty we have to protect the ecosystem. There are many aspects of this charming story that I enjoyed and treasured, but what stands out for me in particular is Foster’s approach to the whole experience: as a humble, open-minded, respectful and knowledge-thirsty student. And the octopus rewarded this pupil’s attitude generously!  So, if you want to distract your mind for a couple of hours and be uplifted, I recommend watching this film.