Beautiful, heartwarming nature docu has positive messages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Mention of an otter killed on the road, and a dead otter cub is shown washed up on the beach. A person references a moment in childhood when he felt alone and exposed -- though no detail is given. A traditional celebratory procession sees people carry torches and set a boat on fire.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Mention of an Amazon parcel arriving. A Walkers' potato chips packet is seen.
Positive Messages
a lot
Empathy, compassion, and communication are important character strengths. Purpose can be transformative when you're feeling lost. Animals and humans can develop strong emotional bonds and there's less of a line between us and the rest of nature than we think. Part of loving is wanting what's best for someone and learning to let go. Joy and playfulness are important, and are sometimes lost in adulthood. Sometimes when you get everything you want you convince yourself it's everything you need, but something is still missing.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Billy is kind and gentle, but feels a little lost and empty before he meets Molly the otter. He shows empathy, compassion, and communication skills in his relationship with Molly. His wife, Susan, shows those same traits toward him in understanding the importance of his relationship with the otter, and wanting him to be happy. She also shows great patience in allowing Molly's needs to sometimes be prioritized above her own.
Educational Value
a little
Aimed more at following the story of the bond between a human and an otter, and offering up positive messages, the documentary also teaches information about otters in the wild and how to care for them as well.
Diverse Representations
very little
Central couple are very caring and compassionate toward each other, and toward animals. However, there's an implication that not having a child has left a "hole" in Billy's heart, which leans into a damaging narrative about people finding themselves lacking if they decide not to or are unable to have children.
Parents need to know that Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story is a tender documentary about a man named Billy Mail who befriends a young wild otter named Molly and develops a strong bond with her over a number of months as he nurses her back to health and becomes increasingly dedicated to her care. Both Billy and his wife, Susan, demonstrate empathy, compassion, and communication skills, and are gentle and kind toward both the otter and each other, though they do experience some struggles in their marriage. The film has little iffy content, though there is a mention of a dead otter, and an otter's body is shown washed up on the coast and is later buried. Landscapes in Scotland's Shetlands Isles are beautifully filmed, and there's plenty of footage of Molly and other otters that will delight nature lovers. The film can be a tearjerker at times, but it's ultimately a heartwarming story that shows the healing power of nature and connection. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
We liked: the otter, beautiful nature, the birth of the baby otter, Billy scuba diving, the happy ending
We didn't like: the big winter storm, we worried that the otter wasn't going to be able to survive.
Watched as a family with two 6 year olds and an 8 year old. Everyone loved this sweet story.
What's the Story?
In BILLY & MOLLY: AN OTTER LOVE STORY, Billy Mail befriends a young wild otter, Molly, on the coast of the Scottish Shetland Isles and helps nurse her back to health. As he goes to greater lengths to give her everything she needs, his wife, Susan, begins to wonder whether he's healing Molly -- or Molly is healing him.
Disney caught on to the emotional impact that can come from friendships between humans and animals early on and have certainly brought many a memorable pairing over the years. In Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story, National Geographic takes a documentary approach to what otherwise feels a lot like a Disney story -- still as cute and playful at times, but without the schmaltz or the heavy-handedness. Billy makes for an incredibly likable character, as does his long-suffering wife Susan, and it's easy to see why their kindness is rewarded with such a strong, enduring bond with Molly. Though the central story is undeniably touching, the bonus here is the benefit of Nat Geo's world-class cinematography, which paints the spectacular Scottish landscapes in dramatic hues and allows privileged, intimate access to the animal antics, while the underwater scenes in particular unfold like immersive kingdoms. What might initially seem like a sweet but slight story unfolds into a powerful tale of connection, purpose, and healing, sprinkled with good-natured humor from its human leads, and an adorable turn from its furry star.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the relationship between the two central characters in Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story. What did Billy offer Molly and what did Molly offer Billy? Were there times when the dynamic changed? Do you believe animals and humans can have close connections that go both ways?
The documentary is not just about the life of an otter, but her relationship with a human. How did it compare to other nature documentaries? Can you think of other examples of films where the relationship between an animal and a human is central? Does it affect how you see the animal in question? Does it help you to understand them?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
