Rodman Public Library invites patrons to dive into one of the most memorable documentaries in recent years when it shows My Octopus Teacher on Tuesday, February 10.
A 2020 Netflix Original documentary, the film gives viewers a sense of what it’s like to spend time with one of the great sea creatures and will be shown inside Rodman Auditorium at both 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10.
The public viewing kicks off the 2026 programs in support of the One Book One Community selection The Soul of an Octopus: The Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery.
Registration is required to attend either showing at rodmanlibrary.com.
[REGISTER HERE FOR 11 A.M. SHOWING]
[REGISTER HERE FOR 6:30 P.M. SHOWING]
The film, which runs 85 minutes, won the Best Documentary Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards.
Directed by Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed, the film follows filmmaker and naturalist Craig Foster as he documents his daily free dives into the cold Atlantic Ocean near his home. Over the course of nearly a year, Foster closely observes a wild common octopus living in the kelp forest ecosystem.
The documentary focuses on the octopus’s natural behaviors, including hunting techniques, camouflage, problem-solving, and methods of avoiding predators. Octopuses are known for their intelligence, with the ability to use tools, escape enclosures, and adapt quickly to changing environments. The film provides a rare, sustained look at these abilities in a wild setting rather than a laboratory.
Much of the footage was captured without scuba equipment, allowing for quieter, less intrusive observation. This approach offers an unusually intimate view of life in the kelp forest, one of the most biologically diverse marine environments in the world. The forest itself plays a significant role in the documentary, serving as habitat for fish, sharks, seals, crustaceans, and countless other species.
Beyond marine life, the film also documents the physical and mental discipline required for free diving in cold water and the patience involved in long-term wildlife observation. Rather than relying on scripted narration, the documentary allows the images and behavior of the animals to drive the story.
Visually stunning and unexpectedly emotional, this film proves that the most powerful stories don’t always come from far-off places — sometimes they’re hiding just beneath the surface.
Short on flash but rich in meaning, My Octopus Teacher is inspiring, thought-provoking, and surprisingly uplifting — a rare documentary that connects with both the heart and the mind.