Oh Brother Octopus

The sea nomads of Indonesia believe that every newborn child has a twin brother in the form of an octopus. Various rituals are carried out in order to live in peace with the twin and prevent misfortune. According to myth, if something terrible does happen, it is said to be the octopus taking apocalyptic revenge. It’s similar in reality: The apocalypse comes in the form of a new artificial world about to be constructed on the water. This immediately threatens the livelihood of the sea nomads. What should they do now? The octopi, with more than 100 different varieties, belong to the largest species of octopus, and are extremely adaptable. But all forms of adaptation ultimately reach their limit when the required space is gone. Documentary filmmaker Florian Kunert made a hybrid film. Subjective shots, interviews, observations and interventions fused into a journey of creature and human, beneath and above the water.
by Florian Kunert
with Yanto, Swarno, Budima, Ginseng, Artor, Lino
Germany 2017 Indonesian 27’ Colour Documentary form

With

  • Yanto
  • Swarno
  • Budima
  • Ginseng
  • Artor
  • Lino

Crew

Director Florian Kunert
Cinematography Florian Kunert
Editing Florian Kunert, Ian Purnell, Lara Rodriguez
Producer Florian Kunert
Co-Production Highway Spirit Dohna, Deutschland

Produced by

Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln

http://www.khm.de http://www.khm.de

Florian Kunert

Born in Sebnitz, East Germany in 1989. He studied Documentary Film Directing in Cuba and completed his postgraduate studies at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. Florian Kunert works as an author and director. Fortschritt im Tal der Ahnungslosen is his first feature-length film.

Filmography (documentaries)

2017 Oh Brother Octopus; 27 min., Berlinale Shorts 2017 2019 Fortschritt im Tal der Ahnungslosen

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2019