Story
Craig Foster, a wildlife filmmaker, documents a year spent developing a relationship with a common octopus in a South African underwater kelp forest. As Craig and the octopus get to know each other, he witnesses her life and challenges in the ocean. The time together culminates in the birth of the next generation of octopuses and the octopus’s eventual death.
Themes
Animal harm and death
Violence
My Octopus Teacher has no violence.
Sexual references
My Octopus Teacher has no sexual references.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
There’s no use of substances in My Octopus Teacher.
Nudity and sexual activity
My Octopus Teacher has some mild nudity. For example, Craig is filmed swimming shirtless for most of the movie.
Product placement
The following products are displayed or used in My Octopus Teacher: a Sony video camera, an Aqua Lung scuba mask, and Oceanic diving flippers.
Coarse language
There is some very mild coarse language in My Octopus Teacher, including ‘hell’.
Ideas to discuss with your children
My Octopus Teacher is a wildlife documentary by Craig Foster with beautiful footage of ocean life and a compelling story about the short life of an octopus.
This movie is likely to entertain children aged 11 years and older, as well as younger children with an interest in wildlife. But because of scenes that show predatory animal behaviour and animal death, this movie isn’t suitable for children under 8 years. We also recommend parental guidance for children aged 8-10 years.
The main messages from My Octopus Teacher are about the transience of life and nature and humans’ place in the natural world.
Values in My Octopus Teacher that you could reinforce with your children include valuing, respecting and protecting the environment.
My Octopus Teacher could give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues like the importance of:
- not interfering with animals in the wild
- practising self-care when experiencing hard times.