The Life and Times of Paul the Psychic Octopus is showing at the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2012, which is being covered by Samantha Morrison…
The Life and Times of Paul the Psychic Octopus, 2012.
Written and Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe.
SYNOPSIS:
A documentary on Paul, the octopus who correctly predicted eight consecutive matches in the 2010 World Cup.
Everyone remembers Paul. The octopus who calmly chose the winners of every single German match of the World Cup, and then the final itself. It was an extraordinary tale, first a local interest story, then an international sensation.
Philippe travels far and wide across Europe, to meet the aquarium workers in Germany where Paul was housed; to England, to meet his agent; to Italy, to see his birth certificate (really!), and so many more. It’s magnificent to see all the corners of the world this wee octopus touched, and the huge debate he began. Does predetermination exist? And if it does, can an octopus really be a fortune-teller?
This film is interspersed with some really excellent animation. The opening title sequence is bright and full of movement, and succeeding animations illustrate the stories of the interviewees, some comically (glove puppet octopuses dressed as Spain and the Netherlands fight at one point) and some with great and touching sincerity.
Philippe is wonderfully thorough. We meet almost every single person with a connection to Paul, and so miss nothing. Although, audience members did find out in the Q&A afterwards, they were unable to conduct an interview with the Italian woman who claims to have sold Paul to the German aquarium. The documentary was green-lit by the aquarium, and for whatever reason they were not willing to give information on the true nationality of Paul the octopus, so the issue remains a mystery.
Without a doubt, the best part of this documentary is the ‘Animal Communicators’ Philippe hires to communicate with Paul. According to him, it was a spontaneous decision to book them, and my goodness it was a good one. They reel off information that Paul has relayed to them, such as his message for the human race (‘seek to forgive’, if you were curious) and the story of his origin, where (unfortunately for them, but hilariously for us) they constantly contradict one another!
This documentary faithfully draws up the picture of Paul’s fame and his impact, yet with tongue fully in cheek. I have never laughed so hard and so often at a documentary! I truly recommend this film, for all with an interest in pop culture and/or octopuses.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Samantha Morrison
Originally published June 27, 2012. Updated April 11, 2018.
