My Octopus Teacher

In the film My Octopus Teacher, Pippa and James—filmmakers and directors who often investigate how nature and humans are related—utilize detailed visuals underwater, emotional narration, and insightful storytelling in order to show the connection and strong intelligence between animals and humans, evoking a feeling of wanting to respect and protect the natural world in investigative and reflective members of society.

At first, James and Pippa utilize detailed visuals underwater to show how complex and beautiful the ocean environment really is. At the start of the film, Graig Foster goes into the Kelp forest and sees the Octopus for the first time, talking about how it almost merges into its surroundings, stating that “completely camouflaged….almost invisible” (My Octopus Teacher). By using these visuals, the audience is able to see the ocean as something almost living, and as a complex ecosystem instead of a basic body of water. Due to this, the audience gets a feeling of curiosity, realizing the full capabilities of the octopus. This immersion aids viewers in understanding how nature is way more complicated and important than they have previously thought. All of this would move curious and reflective members of society to reflect on and appreciate the marine ecosystem more, due to their being able to see firsthand the beauty and complexity of the ocean.

Because the audience appreciates the marine ecosystem more, Pippa and James further their point by using emotional narration in order to establish a connection between the audience and Craig Foster. As Craig looks back on the time with the octopus, he talks about how the experience changed him, stating how “it helped him feel alive” (My Octopus Teacher). This reflection helps the audience gain a connection with Craig on a deeper and more personal level, allowing them to view the story more than a film. The audience starts to feel empathy and understand that the relationship between the octopus and Craig is deeper than what is at the surface level. Seeing this one example of an emotional bond helps encourage viewers to see animals as capable and complex creatures instead of distant ones. All of this would make the audience gain a strong emotional connection with Craig and his development towards the natural world, since it shows how strong emotional connections between animals and humans really can be.