
The film is well-timed as we all could do with the gift of hope. People, including the audience, will connect with the delightful tale of a cut otter that came ashore from the hard work of a struggling man. It is a nice feeling amidst the chaos. The depiction is professionally done by Charlie Hamilton James, a photographic journalist of National Geographic.
Living in the Shetland Islands which is paradise for a vast majority of people, many people would assume that Billy is another one of the many people living an ideal life. This, however, is not the case for him as he believes something is missing even while on a quiet stroll at the beach when he and his wife, Susan discover a stranded otter. Billy rescues and decides to adopt the otter and names it Molly. However, Molly soon becomes the main focus of the couple and their taming of the otter is shown throughout the film. On-screen, we see the couple taking Molly to the vet when she begins wheezing. At work, Billy messages Susan for assistance and becomes very concerned when he comes first to work. He even constructs a miniature version of their house for Molly.
Over the course of the movie, the bond between Billy and Molly deepens as Billy transforms into a father figure he has never been before. As far as Molly is concerned, it is safe to assume that she enjoyed the warmth of her very own “but and ben” when she underwent changes in her life.
As narrated exclusively from Sue’s perspective save for a few comments from Billy, Susan emerges as a suitable character in the film. It is a risky choice on the part of Hamilton James but one that actually works for the film. Soldier scratches the surface of what Billy might have been ashamed to disclose, some aspects, if not this, he may not even have comprehended all that well. And though the film is about Billy and Molly, one of the characters quite appreciably grows fond of Molly perhaps because of what the otter awoke in her spouse.
Considering Hamilton James’ background with National Geographic (and the fact that this film is a project of this magazine) it is no surprise but rather a nice touch that there are such breathtaking visuals in the film. This definitely comes with a sense of awe, as the Shetlands are the most northern part of the UK enabling its people to experience clear skies full of stars and the Northern Lights. Not to forget the images of dark and raging skies and oceans typical during winter months. Those spectacular images and more certainly pull the viewers into the narrative.
The beauty of the visuals in the film is not only to dazzle but is also used to highlight the isolation that people like Billy and Susan living in the region go through. Such a location is never close to the noise and hustle and bustle of a big city hence it means that choosing to stay in such a place means deciding to cut all forms of complexities and the odds that come with urban areas. Through this image of silence, there is a gradual grasping of what Molly means to Billy and how she has added joy to the lives of both Billy and Susan.
Featuring what seems like a normal family that raises an otter in the wilderness, for the most part, the movie Billy and Molly really presents itself quite clearly, and it doesn’t hide its core message. It reinforces a more apparent lesson about our connection with the environment, although Hamilton James does not overwhelm us with sugary messages with a strong hand — with the exception of the final scene when Billy tries to enter the water to better comprehend Molly’s underwater domain.
Rather, the photographer-turned-filmmaker offers a view of the potential that lies in embracing relationships with an open mind and heart. It’s quite a win-win scenario.
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