Why after watching the fantastic film My Octopus Teacher you will never want to eat squid again
Planning to eat that famous hotdoctopus? Or fancy making stuffed squid soon? Then definitely don’t watch the documentary ‘My Octopus Teacher’ on Netflix, because after that you’ll never want to eat anything with suckers and tentacles again.
It’s probably on your Netflix list, or you’ve already watched it: the documentary ‘My Octopus Teacher’. A nature film with a meditative pace about Craig, who dives every day in an icy bay in South Africa and befriends a small octopus. No, not a children’s film or a cartoon, but a real, true-life documentary that will undoubtedly make sure you never want to eat squid again. Why? Five reasons.
The octopus is smart
They’re as smart as a dog or a cat, or as a monkey, says Craig. When Craig first meets his little octopus, she disguises herself as a rock covered in shells. She comes up with tricks to keep creepy, spider-like starfish out of her den. And she’s even too clever for a shark. Quite the thinker!
The octopus is a friend
Craig develops deep feelings for the eight-armed mollusc. He himself talks about being in love, he cuddles the octopus (ew!) and recognises all kinds of emotions in her. It could have something to do with the burnout Craig is recovering from; perhaps he isn’t entirely emotionally stable when he meets the octopus, but the fact remains: he forms a friendship with a mollusc. Seriously.
The octopus is funny
Craig thinks it’s a good idea to place a camera on the seabed to see what the octopus gets up to all day. She isn’t keen, though; nine times out of ten she knocks the camera over, so Craig mainly films sand, stones and shells.
The octopus simply grows a new leg
Exciting scene and a bit of a spoiler: the octopus is constantly attacked by the sharks swimming around the bay. One of those creeps gets hold of her leg and bites it off. Craig comes to the surface sad and horrified. Fortunately, after a few days, a new little tentacle grows where the arm was bitten off. It gives him hope: apparently, an octopus can recover from something like that, and perhaps he can recover from his burnout and emotional problems too? If it wasn’t clear before: Craig has a few issues, yes.
The octopus is moving
After the irritation caused by the tinkly new-age film music and Craig’s endless psychological musings about the emotional life of his octopus girlfriend, even the most hardened cynic feels moved when the octopus mates with a larger, older male octopus. Why this doesn’t turn into octopus porn with sixteen intertwined arms, but instead becomes a tear-jerking scene, you’ll see in the film.
Read also:
- Seared squid with baby courgette and olive oil
- Good news for vegans: first vegan supermarket opens in Amsterdam
- Jamie Oliver’s vegan moussaka
Image: still from My Octopus Teacher/Netflix
