This documentary literally saved me from the depths of depression and despair living under one of the most draconian lockdowns in the world in Victoria, Australia.
It demonstrates how precious life is, in every shape and form. I dare anyone to indulge in calamari after viewing this heart wrenching relationship between this beautiful female octopus and this equally beautiful and compassionate, south African man.
The cinematography is visually stunning, and his remarkable ability to capture the soul of this mesmerising octopus is truly amazing.
If eyes are the window to the soul, then this octopus with her huge, expressive eyes will convince you.
Her fight for survival, every single day of her short life, will give you strength, her relationship with the man will renew your faith in humanity, especially in this dark time.
He entered her world, with such love and respect, unlike most humans who go to steal from, and destroy the oceans.
The kelp forests took me away to a world l wanted to retreat to, a mystical world so different to the life we live on dry land.
When she gives her life to reproduce, l challenge you not to shed a tear.
Life changing for me, thankyou, beautiful south African man, l really needed this documentary right now
Reviews
4 Reviews
My Octopus Teacher
(2020)
One of the best nature videos l have ever seen
15 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Life Itself
(2018)
Anyone that is a parent will be moved beyond belief
1 February 2020
I cannot tell you how this movie touched my soul.
Because of this movie, l now consider every choice l make parenting my three year old son, because it will imprint on his being.
The movie is mostly a tragedy.lt demonstrates how as children, our environment, our parents , those that we put our trust in, shape and mould us. They wire our brain , they leave their scars on our soul, and our vulnerable hearts.
This movie us about the consequences, about how adults can screw the next generation up, but it is also about how through this,some fall, and some become resilant.
The first part of the movie has some sick humour, and l was almost going to turn it off, but I persisted and was rewarded with an absolute rollercoaster of emotion, that left me sobbing.
I could relate to this movie on a deeper level, life does indeed bring you to your knees, but you have to get back up and keep moving forward. The other alternative is not pretty, now go hug your babies!!
Ellie Parker
(2005)
one of the most classic 'LA' scenes ever
26 May 2011
As someone that spent 18 years in the city of Angels, I have met many Ellie Parkers. I adored this little gem, albeit low budget movie, with some of best acting one could feast their eyes on. The scene with Ellie in the car in a complete hyped up, Star Bucks frenzy, smeared with lipstick, banging her head to Blondie and madly shouting out " I wanna suck Vinnie's ####'!!!" in her New Jersey accent, had me rolling on the floor.
For those that know nothing of the dashed dreams of Many desperate Hollywood starlets, and the pure sleaze these women encounter as they try to fulfill their dreams, forget it, you just won't 'get it'. LA is a town, of big talking wannabes and 'Ellie Parker' really led you into that world with it's fake facade and empty promises. Naomi Watts just shines as Ellie Parker. She totally engulfs the screen with her magical expressions of pain, joy, angst, fear, confusion and loneliness.
I felt very empty after the final scene, just as Ellie did. The City of Angels changes you, makes you selfish, egotistical, and almost insane. Ellie knew her pursuit of acting had caused her to become a shell of a person, and as a viewer I really felt her pain.
So it was shot with a cheap camera, big deal. The messages where there, contrary to what many other reviewers said, you just had to be sensitive enough to pick them up.
This film really transported me back to LA, and made me shudder, thanks 'Eliie parker' for reminding me why I left!
For those that know nothing of the dashed dreams of Many desperate Hollywood starlets, and the pure sleaze these women encounter as they try to fulfill their dreams, forget it, you just won't 'get it'. LA is a town, of big talking wannabes and 'Ellie Parker' really led you into that world with it's fake facade and empty promises. Naomi Watts just shines as Ellie Parker. She totally engulfs the screen with her magical expressions of pain, joy, angst, fear, confusion and loneliness.
I felt very empty after the final scene, just as Ellie did. The City of Angels changes you, makes you selfish, egotistical, and almost insane. Ellie knew her pursuit of acting had caused her to become a shell of a person, and as a viewer I really felt her pain.
So it was shot with a cheap camera, big deal. The messages where there, contrary to what many other reviewers said, you just had to be sensitive enough to pick them up.
This film really transported me back to LA, and made me shudder, thanks 'Eliie parker' for reminding me why I left!
The Burning Plain
(2008)
Sweeping desert landscapes perfectly compliment this story of pain, desperation, acceptance and loss.
9 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
For the first 45 minutes or so I hated this movie. My head spun. Who was this whoreish, depressed, desperate, self mutilating character that Charlize Theron played? What was her motive for such self destructive behavior? I was not quite sure if she was a prostitute, or just offering her body to any man that came along, to fill some gaping void in her lifeless soul. Her eyes seemed dead, she seemed so achingly lonely, but most of all she just seemed empty.
Then I winced at the seemingly unrelated story of the Mexicans in the American Southwest surveying some burnt out trailer in the desert and that awkward desperate love scene between Basinger and the Mexican guy.
Even though I am a white women married to a Mexican, I know first hand how huge the cultural divide is between Mexican men and pretty, white women in the United States, so I found this unlikely affair between the two to be quite unrealistic. Basinger , still attractive, but barely, struck me more as some middle aged, stretched, botoxed high maintenance L.A type, who in reality would not cavort around with a 'wetback', as most Americans refer to Mexicans living in America as. Her role as a desert dwelling desperado looking for some nooky with a poor, Mexican farmer is almost hilarious ( I lived in California for many years, and I know how unlikely this scenario is)
WAIT!!-ahhhhhhhh, now I get it, the story starts coming together. It is just director, Gullermo Arriagas unique spin on storytelling. Maybe he was trying to be a little too arty, but somehow it manages to work, and maybe even better than if it had been done in a more linear fashion.More impact with his highly stylized film making, which seems to work, but is not for everyone.The full impact of this film did not hit me until the morning after, like a bad hangover it plagued me. It's heavy subject matter had definitely stirred me, and I even felt overwhelmingly emotional playing the scenes over in my head.
I guess everything came together, and became more realistic for me when Kim Basinger ( Gina) is rejected sexually by her Husband because she has had a double mastectomy. AHHHHHHHH, now I know why she seeks out her Latin lover who is not repulsed by her amputated breasts! Like most Mexican men he is perfectly accepting of her flaws, and still finds her beautiful and desirable. She is overwhelmed by his acceptance and insatiable lust for her, despite her terribly scarred chest. Now this movie begins to wash over me and envelop me in it's power, I go from hate to love!!
The acting is really superb in this movie. As usual, Charlize Theron ( Sylvia) defies stereotype and digs her acting chops into something unorthodox. I have nothing but respect for this pretty lady, who has shunned the usual Hollywood fluff and manages to make the audience believe time and time again that she is a white trash gal from the wrong side of the tracks, full of pain and running from her demons. It is not easy to be that gorgeous and convince the audience, but once again Charlize pulls off another tortured soul admirably.
Jennifer Lawrence, who plays the daughter of Kim Basinger is a talent to watch out for. Her level of maturity and subtle sexuality is rare and unique amongst young Hollywood actresses, and like Charlize, chose to go the gritty route, for which she will be rewarded. Check her out in' The Poker House', and be blown away, she is a hell of a young actress. The relationship with her Mothers lovers son is sensuous and moving , with none of that tired old teen angst that is often portrayed with young lovers on screen. Their relationship honors the memory of their parents special love and passion beautifully.
This movie is not for a lot of people. It is dark, and many will find the ending unsatisfying. There are no happy endings in this film. The sweeping emptiness of the New Mexico desert is a perfect backdrop for all the characters pain, loss, angst and desperation. The Harshness of the landscape lends itself to the cruelness of the story.
If you are a true movie buff you should love this movie. You may need to take a cold shower afterwards, but 'The Burning Plain' will linger , and possibly be seared in your memory for a long time.
Then I winced at the seemingly unrelated story of the Mexicans in the American Southwest surveying some burnt out trailer in the desert and that awkward desperate love scene between Basinger and the Mexican guy.
Even though I am a white women married to a Mexican, I know first hand how huge the cultural divide is between Mexican men and pretty, white women in the United States, so I found this unlikely affair between the two to be quite unrealistic. Basinger , still attractive, but barely, struck me more as some middle aged, stretched, botoxed high maintenance L.A type, who in reality would not cavort around with a 'wetback', as most Americans refer to Mexicans living in America as. Her role as a desert dwelling desperado looking for some nooky with a poor, Mexican farmer is almost hilarious ( I lived in California for many years, and I know how unlikely this scenario is)
WAIT!!-ahhhhhhhh, now I get it, the story starts coming together. It is just director, Gullermo Arriagas unique spin on storytelling. Maybe he was trying to be a little too arty, but somehow it manages to work, and maybe even better than if it had been done in a more linear fashion.More impact with his highly stylized film making, which seems to work, but is not for everyone.The full impact of this film did not hit me until the morning after, like a bad hangover it plagued me. It's heavy subject matter had definitely stirred me, and I even felt overwhelmingly emotional playing the scenes over in my head.
I guess everything came together, and became more realistic for me when Kim Basinger ( Gina) is rejected sexually by her Husband because she has had a double mastectomy. AHHHHHHHH, now I know why she seeks out her Latin lover who is not repulsed by her amputated breasts! Like most Mexican men he is perfectly accepting of her flaws, and still finds her beautiful and desirable. She is overwhelmed by his acceptance and insatiable lust for her, despite her terribly scarred chest. Now this movie begins to wash over me and envelop me in it's power, I go from hate to love!!
The acting is really superb in this movie. As usual, Charlize Theron ( Sylvia) defies stereotype and digs her acting chops into something unorthodox. I have nothing but respect for this pretty lady, who has shunned the usual Hollywood fluff and manages to make the audience believe time and time again that she is a white trash gal from the wrong side of the tracks, full of pain and running from her demons. It is not easy to be that gorgeous and convince the audience, but once again Charlize pulls off another tortured soul admirably.
Jennifer Lawrence, who plays the daughter of Kim Basinger is a talent to watch out for. Her level of maturity and subtle sexuality is rare and unique amongst young Hollywood actresses, and like Charlize, chose to go the gritty route, for which she will be rewarded. Check her out in' The Poker House', and be blown away, she is a hell of a young actress. The relationship with her Mothers lovers son is sensuous and moving , with none of that tired old teen angst that is often portrayed with young lovers on screen. Their relationship honors the memory of their parents special love and passion beautifully.
This movie is not for a lot of people. It is dark, and many will find the ending unsatisfying. There are no happy endings in this film. The sweeping emptiness of the New Mexico desert is a perfect backdrop for all the characters pain, loss, angst and desperation. The Harshness of the landscape lends itself to the cruelness of the story.
If you are a true movie buff you should love this movie. You may need to take a cold shower afterwards, but 'The Burning Plain' will linger , and possibly be seared in your memory for a long time.
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