I first learned about Shelby Van Pelt’s novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures, from a local bookseller who recommended it to me. If you’re not familiar, the story is about Tova, a widow, who befriends Marcellus, an octopus at the aquarium where she works as a night janitor. Along the way, Tova meets Cameron, a wayward young man, and the two develop a friendship. Curmudgeonly Marcellus narrates the book and eventually solves a mystery that benefits both Tova and Cameron. The challenge is how the octopus can communicate his knowledge to these humans, who are “remarkably bright.”

The story blends drama, mystery, and magical realism. It focuses on themes of loneliness, healing, and intergenerational connection.

The movie version was just released on Netflix. I finished the book about 1-1/2 years ago, so I am a little hazy on the exact details, but it seemed like the movie was as faithful to the book as it could be. Sally Field plays Tova, and she was perfect for the role. The story is set in the Pacific Northwest, but the movie was shot in Vancouver, which looks much the same. I thought the movie aquarium building was so quaint!

I rated the book 5 out of 5 on Goodreads, and the movie was right up there, too. While reading the book, I couldn’t quite bring myself to believe that Marcellus could read and understand human speech, and I thought the movie handled these issues well.

I’m currently taking a screenwriting class. I have a long short story that I think would make a great movie. Instead of waiting for some screenwriter to notice it, I decided to become that screenwriter! I just finished the first draft of my satirical thriller feature film set in a northern Minnesota bog last week. I need to add a few more pages of content, but the script is on its way! I meet with my instructor this week to discuss it. Of course, I think it’s the best thing ever, but, like with my stories, I’m often quickly disabused of this feeling after receiving outside feedback. Then I sigh and put in more work. I expect it will be the same for this script.

My class was another reason I was keen to watch Remarkably Bright Creatures and note how the movie handled different situations presented by the book. I was able to visualize how Marcellus’s narration would be written in the script and how certain scenes would be described.

As another learning experience, I attended the Minnesota Film Festival, which is held in Duluth. I was able to sit in on a table read of a script-in- progress. (That’s where the entire script is read by actors.) I also went to a networking session where I met other writers in this medium.

I’m excited by screenwriting. I love its emphasis on the visual, which seems to fit with how I experience the world. It’s been fun to learn yet another form of writing (as if short stories, novels, novellas, memoirs, blogging, short-short stories, and poetry weren’t enough)!

Anyway, back to the movie. If you prefer a tight, suspenseful narrative, Remarkably Bright Creatures might not be for you. But if you enjoy character-driven stories with a touch of whimsy, this movie should resonate.