'My Octopus Teacher,' which took ten years to make, wins Oscar for best documentary

Gulf Today Report

Ten years in the making, "My Octopus Teacher” began as a personal video project by South African filmmaker Craig Foster to rekindle his connection with nature by observing an inquisitive female mollusc while free-diving near Cape Town.

He filmed their interactions and became increasingly dazzled by how she could fashion tools from shells, furl herself in ribbons of kelp to avoid detection, outwit a a pajama shark and adjust her hunting techniques to envelop crabs, lobsters and fish. Viewers even see her play.

READ MORE

'Nomadland' wins big at pandemic Oscars as Zhao makes history

Anthony Hopkins wins best actor award for 'The Father'

In Iraq book clubs and science fiction offer 'escape'

The lifespan of a female octopus of the kind Foster met extends to only about 18 months. But that was enough time for him and his fellow directors Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed, to be profoundly impacted by her.

Foster said his relationship with the octopus taught him about life’s fragility and our connection with nature, and even helped him become a better father.

The film became a sleeper hit, earning a Directors Guild of America nomination, then an Oscar nod, a BAFTA award and was named top documentary at the Producers Guild of America Awards.

Swati Thiyagarajan, Indian conservationist, documentary filmmaker and environmental journalist,was the production manager for the Netflix film, which featured her husband as the human subject and his diving experiences with octopuses. Thiyagarajan is based in Cape Town, South Africa and New Delhi, India.

Plenty of famous fans have endorsed the sweet story on social media: "I really recommend this movie,” Amy Schumer wrote on Instagram. Brittany Snow chimed in on Schumer’s post that she’s "never cried more,” and Justin Theroux added, "Concur. Had me in tears. Bye calamari.”

Zach Braff added the film "will cleanse your brain’s palate from the overwhelming dread and ennui and melancholia it may or may not be feeling.”

Ehrlich has said she has been delighted by the response, particularly when iconic naturalist Jane Goodall said her favourite films are "The Lord of the Rings” and "My Octopus Teacher.”

For the Oscar, "My Octopus Teacher” beat out "Collective,” "Crip Camp,” "The Mole Agent” and "Time.”