We’re excited to share that our new Nat Geo film Billy and Molly, the story of an unlikely companionship between man and otter, will premiere next month at South by Southwest (SXSW).
Produced by Silverback Films, and from Director Charlie Hamilton James and Producer Jeff Wilson, comes a timeless love story between a man and an otter set in the remote, wild Shetland archipelago in Scotland. The film features a score from Scottish Composer Erland Cooper.
The documentary follows Billy, a salt-of-the-earth philosopher and Molly, a half-drowned, starving young female otter that Billy stumbles on one rainy evening in the Scottish subarctic. From there, an unlikely relationship begins that eventually saves them both. Billy and Molly is a remarkable story of trust, of joy and a shared love of the simple things in life.
Shot in 4K, the film captures the wild nature of the British Isles with its orcas, dolphin pods and migratory birds that come to feed on its ragged shorelines. Billy and Molly get to know each other amidst this backdrop they call home. Molly likes salmon, yellow buckets and playing in lobster pots. Billy likes shucking scallops, the feel of lichen on dry stone walls, and drinking tea. With Molly as his guide, Billy gains a heightened level of intimacy with the natural world in a way he didn’t know was possible. The film is an emotional journey, capturing the joy that accompanies a blossoming friendship and the heartbreak that comes when it’s time to part ways, as Molly must eventually relocate to go raise her otter pups.
“Billy and Molly is a beautiful, special story that encapsulates the beauty of the natural world and the effect it can have on our lives during the unlikeliest of moments,” said Tom McDonald, Executive Vice President, Global Factual and Unscripted Content, National Geographic. “The presence of nature can help rewrite our own personal histories if we take a moment to connect with it. That’s really the core of the natural history content we create at National Geographic: to encourage people around the world to connect with nature, and I think Billy and Molly will inspire viewers to do just that.
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