It was a stormy afternoon in Sarasota, Florida, and my wife and I -- already tired from a week's activities on vacation -- decided to take it easy and watch a movie. (The kids were otherwise occupied with various electronic devices, the use of which was sharply curtailed while on holiday.) Scrolling through the offerings led us to Remarkably Bright Creatures, about which we knew little but had heard good things.

At first glance, it might seem like a silly film for children, given that the story is narrated by an octopus. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Based on the novel by Shelby Van Pelt, the centerpiece of the movie -- octopus notwithstanding -- is Tova Sullivan (Sally Field), who is the overnight cleaning lady at the popular Sowell Bay aquarium in the Pacific Northwest. Tova is an older woman, past retirement age, but is deeply committed to her job. Otherwise, she has little in her life: her husband died years before from cancer, and her son Erik (Brandon McEwan) died at age 18 in a boating accident that the community believes was a suicide. The last time Tova and Erik spoke, they fought, and her struggles with that memory prevent her from maintaining close relationships with the people around her, including the "Knit-Wits," a small group of gossipy older women (Joan Chen, Kathy Baker and Beth Grant) who, you know, knit, and Ethan Mack (Colm Meaney), a local storekeeper who carries a secret torch for Tova.

Tova has a special bond with Marcellus (voiced by Alfred Molina), the aquarium's resident octopus, with whom she maintains an ongoing monologue while she works. For his part, Marcellus doesn't find her as off-putting as he does most humans, particularly after he escapes from his tank one night and she finds him tangled in electrical cords and saves him from suffocation. (He escapes from his tank fairly often, as octopuses are known to do, but usually returns under his own power.) He believes he owes her a debt and so, knowing he is nearing the end of his life, he resolves to help heal the pain in her heart.

The opportunity presents itself when Cameron Cassmore (Lewis Pullman), a young, deeply unlucky man and an aspiring musician, comes to town seeking his father, who he has never met. His quest fails, but he is trapped in the town when his van breaks down. To earn money for repairs, he takes odd jobs from Ethan and, after Tova injures her leg, works as a substitute janitor at the aquarium. The latter job he doesn't take very seriously until Tova -- who is, let's face it, obsessive about it -- sets him straight.

And then, gradually, Tova and Cameron discover the secret link that binds them.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is a deeply emotional film, with characters you can't help but care about. It's funny and sad and sweet, with twists that will keep you guessing.

The slow pace of the movie allows each character to develop fully, making the ultimate resolution of their stories that much more poignant. It leaves you with a happy kind of sadness, and a sad kind of happiness. The movie, directed by Olivia Newman, is immensely satisfying.

The cast, by the way, is excellent, working together to provide an exceptional storytelling experience. Special notice must go to Sally Field, however, who brings real heart to the film; she is a treasure who deserves all the accolades.