The Octopus

Where to watch · United States

Stream Criterion Channel

via JustWatch · IP Geolocation by DB-IP

The Octopus (1928)

Directed by Jean Painlevé

Documentary · 13m

An octopus slithers over objects on land—a doll, a skull—then oozes along the shore into the sea. It secretes its ink. The camera follows it along rocks into deeper water, watching closely as it breathes. Its eye is closed then open. Simple titles, in French and German, suggest what to watch. The octopus alternates the use of breathing tubes on either side. It changes color as cells on its skin contract or dilate. Extreme magnification helps us see these changes. Two struggle, one dies. On shore, fishermen catch them and put them in pails. A single tentacle still has life. Back in the sea, two octopi attack a crab. Soon only a couple of crab legs are visible in the mouth of the victor.

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Crew

Director
Jean Painlevé

Details

Original title
La pieuvre
Release date
1928-12-14
Runtime
13m
Genres
Documentary
Original language
FR
Spoken languages
No Language
Countries
France