Describe a documentary that you have watched

A documentary I watched recently and found very memorable is called My Octopus Teacher. I watched it on a streaming service about six months ago, at home, after a friend told me it was the best thing she had seen all year.

It's about a filmmaker who goes through a difficult period in his life and starts diving every day in a cold kelp forest off the coast of South Africa. During his dives, he meets a young octopus and gradually earns her trust. Over almost a year, he films her hunting, hiding from sharks and even playing with him. By the end, there is a real sense of friendship between the two, which was something I never imagined possible between a human and a sea creature.

I learned a great deal from it. I had no idea octopuses were so intelligent, or that they live for only about a year, which made the ending quite emotional. I also learned how fragile marine ecosystems are, and how much we depend on them. The footage was beautiful, and the narrator's honest, quiet voice made it feel personal rather than a lecture. In the last scene I had tears in my eyes.

I would definitely recommend it, for people of all ages. It's an eye-opener about the natural world, and it's thoughtful rather than preachy. It also made me appreciate how important it is to slow down and pay attention to the living things around us. I've already recommended it to my parents and two colleagues, and all three enjoyed it.