Mein Lehrer, der Krake

Dieser Film ist besser als alle naturwissenschaftlichen Dokumentarfilme. Auch wenn es sich nur um einen Dokumentarfilm über das Meer und die Freundschaft eines Kraken mit einem Menschen handeln sollte, würde er durch die vielfältigen Situationen und den einzigartigen Bildungswert herausragen. Nicht nur, dass die Zuschauer*innen die Fakten hören und sehen. Sie werden zusammen mit dem Autor dank seiner Offenheit zu Mitentdeckern. Mein Lehrer, der Krake bedeutet aber dank der emotionalen Seite, der thematischen Komplexität und der Verbindung mit dem Leben des Dokumentaristen viel mehr. Wenn letztes Mal den Dokumentarfilm-Oscar Alex Honnold für die Kraft des menschlichen Geistes beim Klettern bekam, sollte es jetzt Craig Foster für die Darstellung einer zarten Beziehung zwischen zwei völlig unterschiedlichen Arten sowie eine poetische Beschreibung von Gemeinsamkeiten auf ihrem Lebensweg sein. (27.10.2020)

Ein zerbrechliches und völlig einzigartiges Dokument über die unerwartete Freundschaft zwischen einem neugierigen Kopffüßer und einem ausgebrannten Filmemacher, der den größten Teil seines Lebens mit ihm beim täglichen Tauchen verbracht hat. Eine originelle, emotionale und manchmal auch spannende Verbindung zwischen der Welt der Menschen und der Welt der Tiere, die vereinigende Parallelen im Leben beider Protagonisten findet und auf ungezwungene Weise dazu auffordert, die Natur aus einer völlig anderen Perspektive zu verstehen. (04.01.2021)

Als ich kürzlich die Serie Das Tier gesehen habe, hat von allen Folgen Oktopusse, die unter ihren allesfressenden Tentakeln viele Geheimnisse verbergen, meine Aufmerksamkeit am meisten erregt. Mein Lehrer, der Krake verlässt sich nicht auf seine visuelle Raffinesse, wie es bei Tierdokumentationen oft der Fall ist, sondern versucht, sich statt der Form mit dem Inhalt zu beschäftigen. Wir verfolgen zwei Lebenswege - den des Menschen und den des Kopffüßers - wobei letzterer einen sehr schicksalhaften Charakter annimmt, da die Lebensspanne von Kraken nicht sehr lang ist. Manchmal hatte ich das Gefühl, dass Foster zu viel Gefühlsduselei betreibt und seine Gemütslage zu "heftig" auf seinen achtköpfigen "Freund" projiziert, aber andererseits ist er mit echter Leidenschaft bei der Sache. Kraken sind wirklich bewundernswerte Geschöpfe - sei es ihre Intelligenz, ihr Witz, ihre Mimik, ihr Jagdverhalten oder ihre fatale Hingabe an ihren Nachwuchs. (26.11.2022)

I would have never thought that I would develop a relationship with an octopus through this document. Unbelievable. Moreover, I do not understand how Craig Foster managed to film the whole story of that octopus, how he managed to be with the camera at all important moments, how he managed to breathe and stay underwater for some time. It seemed to me as if he had gills and was breathing with them in the water, as if he had merged with the kelp forest and become part of it. In my opinion, the documentary has an incredible reach. Not only with the idea, but also with the conclusion, which is probably the most emotional conclusion I have ever seen in a documentary about nature. (11.01.2021)

Okay, I suspected I might fall into the category of individuals who could theoretically be moved to tears by the life story of an octopus, but I'm still surprised at how much I've come to relate to it. A beautifully filmed, perfectly wonderful story. The underwater world is absolutely fascinating and humanity still knows so little about it. One of the most beautiful and moving documentaries I've ever seen. (30.11.2020)

I don’t care at all its shortcomings as a documentary (i.e. sweet sentimentality), the only type of person who can not like this is someone whose heart was stolen in grade school and never got it back. Unprecedented, beautifully shot and proving that the connection of ugly people with beautiful nature is possible. (15.01.2021)

An emotional, succinct and colourful insight into the lives of an octopus and a marine explorer who become close to each other and form a relationship like no one has ever managed before. It’s a shame that they didn't give us a quick five-minute general overview about octopuses so we know roughly what to expect from them and some basic characteristics, but otherwise this is without question an unbeatable film within the underwater (sub)genre and I applaud it accordingly. Perfect and precise work to balance the spectacle and the documentary depiction of the relationship between man and octopus like this, yet lay it down in a watchable 80-minute format with footage that I have no idea how they could have captured, as it is simply breathtaking and insane. We learn about the workings of the ecosystem "on the bottom", the habits of the main creature, its method of hunting, camouflage from predators and its gradual establishment of contact with humans, and most of all I was blown away by the camouflage, where it packed dead crustaceans and corals onto its suction cups and made itself look like a rock. I don't purposely seek out this kind of genre, but this one blew me away and I'm glad I had the opportunity to see an underwater gem like this. Breathtaking. (17.01.2023)

An immensely sensitively filmed documentary that, against the backdrop of an almost intimate relationship between a person with their heart in the right place and an incredibly intelligent octopus, brings to the lay public the secrets and beauties of the kelp forest world off the shores of South Africa. I fell in love with the octopus in the opening minutes and, accompanied by a commentary led by Craig Foster's voice and pleasant music, I couldn't get enough of the images from her harrowing life journey until the very moving end. I think Craig Foster deserves respect and reverence for his boundless love of nature, which he leads his son to share. (100%) (02.04.2021)

The most surprising documentary in my life. It's been a few days since I saw the film and I still have that warm feeling it evoked in me. I’m recommending it to everyone. An incredible caress to the soul. The last time I was this moved was maybe in 2011 with Intouchables. I’ve always loved octopi... on a plate, but now I can’t imagine myself eating one ever again! For the first time in my life I'm thinking about vegetarianism, and so far no film has managed to do that – even videos from slaughterhouses or factory farms have failed to have any effect on me, and yet this film doesn't even push the idea that eating animals is wrong. How is it possible? Because this documentary has a heart, it doesn't offer much in terms of science, just heart, love and respect for animals and nature. For me, just wow! (21.04.2021)