On March 3, 2021, Billy Mail’s life changed when he noticed an emaciated otter wash up on his jetty near his remote island home. Billy, alongside his wife Susan, and sheepdog Jade, took it upon themselves to nurse the poorly animal back to health. The otter, later named Molly, lived with the Mails, impacting their lives for the better and providing 57-year-old Billy with a new sense of purpose following the death of his parents.
Wildlife filmmaker and National Geographic photographer Charlie Hamilton-James, who has been a regular visitor to Shetland since he was a teenager, found out about Molly and instantly arranged to meet with Billy and Susan. After this, he was inspired to turn the out-of-the-ordinary friendship into an award-winning documentary Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story. “This film was the ultimate passion project for me, and simply a dream come true,” the director said.
“At its core, Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story is about love between man and wife, and man and otter, and for the natural world. “We hope viewers will feel this love radiate when they watch the film.” The documentary covers the quiet, daily interactions of Molly’s time with the Mails, and is said illustrate “the power of love and the beauty of the natural world”.
The film, produced by Emmy and BAFTA Award-winner Jeff Wilson of Silverback Films, premiered in March at the festival South by Southwest (SXSW) in Texas, and has went on to win an award at Bristol’s Wildscreen Fes.
