Billy and Molly: Otter love story in Shetland told in award-winning documentary

A Shetland man’s unlikely love story with a wild otter has been turned into an award-winning documentary.

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.

Billy and Susan nursed Molly back to health. Supplied

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.”

Billy bonded with Molly following the death of his parents. National Geographic via Supplied

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 Festival, and is nominated in several categories at the prestigious American Critics Choice Documentary Awards.

Critics raved following the premiere at SXSW, calling it “one of 2024’s very best documentaries” and “an emotional powerhouse of a documentary”.

Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story premieres on Disney+ on November 14, and will air on the National Geographic channel on November 15.

Tom McDonald, National Geographic’s executive vice president of Global Factual and Unscripted Content, said: “Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story is an inspiring story that we hope will encourage viewers to pause and reconnect with the world around them.

“Charlie Hamilton James and Silverback Films are the perfect partners to bring this story to viewers around the world. This remarkable film truly captures the beauty of nature and humanity and how it impacts our lives in the most unexpected ways.”