Billy & Molly

An Otter Love Story

Garnering multiple nominations and awards, Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story has delighted members of the Solari Team for its portrayal of various forms of love, self-growth, and the cycle of life.

The documentary tells the heart-warming true story of Molly, a wild otter, and her devoted human rescuer, Billy, and the “unlikely relationship…that eventually saves them both.” The film, set in the remote Scottish islands of Shetland, was an immersive experience for all involved, with the camera crew moving into the home of Billy and his wife Susan, and the filming spanning “early mornings and long days to capture the fleeting moments with Molly.”

In interviews, director Charlie Hamilton James, who started visiting Shetland at age 16 and lived there for a time, describes his lifelong fascination with wild otters, stating that the film “was the ultimate passion project…and simply a dream come true.” He notes that he and producer Jeff Wilson agreed that they wanted “to tell a story that wasn’t a wildlife story but was more thematic than that; we wanted to tell a story about love and we wanted it to be fairytale-esque.”

Describing one of the lessons he learned from Molly, Billy comments, “She…says, guys, don’t forget what’s important. It’s food and shelter and warmth. Forget the material stuff.”

At a time when events in the wider world seem increasingly tumultuous, Molly’s admonition to get back to basics is an enjoyable reminder.