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Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story

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Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story

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Summary

When Billy and Susan Mail move to the remote Shetland Islands searching for a better quality of life, the stunningly beautiful but remote landscape takes its toll on Billy. But then he happens upon a young otter, which he names Molly. Apparently alone in the world, Molly soon becomes reliant on the food and affection Billy shows her

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Review

David Butcher

Previously shown on Disney+, this otterly charming documentary is the story of one man’s unlikely friendship with a wild otter, set in stunning scenery and full of gentle wisdom.

Billy first meets Molly near his home on theShetland coast. She is a youngster and her lack of shyness suggests desperation – so Billy starts feeding her fish, and their bond grows. His wife Susan reflects that Molly perhaps fills a need in childless Billy, but really anyone would fall under Molly’s spell.

Her body language is wonderful – somewhere between puppy, kitten and snake – and Charlie Hamilton James’s exquisite photography captures every lollop and wriggle. There are marital tensions, though: Billy builds a tiny house for Molly before he has finished the overdue extension to his and Susan’s, and he buys a freezer to fill with fish. The family border collie Jade is an excellent minor character too, forever crouching hopefully with a ball as Billy’s attention lies elsewhere.

But Molly is the star and it becomes a lovely fable of a human-animal bond and the arc of parenting – of loving and letting go.

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rolenameDirectorCharlie Hamilton-Jones

Details

Released on

2023-01-01

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Colour

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