Ring Of Bright Water (DVD)

...to be persuaded to watch Ring of Bright Water as a child and slowly giving in with the promise that there was a loveable otter in it, but very soon being disappointed with the slow pace and the 60s humour…

However, watching this charming film more recently has shown it in a whole new light to me. From the strange concept of the 60s pet shop that sees it as no strange thing to sell an otter as a pet through to some very odd narrating, ...
...children's film'''

Ring of Bright Water was definitely made as a children's film as the majority of the action is taken up by the pleasantly-named Mij the otter frolicking around in Scotland. Sometimes this is taken to extremes as whole 10 minute sections are devoted to Mij's scampering around a puddle or on his owner, punctuated only by some mildly amused adults watching him. Quite often a long scene like this in one location is followed ... more

I remember trying to be persuaded to watch Ring of Bright Water as a child and slowly giving in with the promise that there was a loveable otter in it, but very soon being disappointed with the slow pace and the 60s humour…

However, watching this charming film more recently has shown it in a whole new light to me. From the strange concept of the 60s pet shop that sees it as no strange thing to sell an otter as a pet through to some very odd narrating, this is indeed a unique film. It definitely feels dated, but rather than being dull or past-it it's more of a time-capsule of 60s childhood - or at least what children in the 60s were told was entertaining and funny.

The plot

I may be wrong, but I believe the film is based on an older book, so some of the events in the film might have seemed bizarre at the time as well as now! The basic plot follows a businessman who is clearly weary of London life. One day by happy chance he wins a salmon in a tombola and on the way home it slides from his hands and into the eyesight of a perky little otter in a pet shop window.

As time passes he sees the otter every day and feels that he is being watched by it. There is a rather well edited section of the film where he spies the otter through holes in objects and via mirrors and still the otter stares at him. I don't feel like I'm spoiling the film for you to tell you that by and by he ends up taking the otter home with him as a pet.

After the opening the film moves from London to Scotland as "London is no place for an otter". This phrase is the theme that leads the rest of the film as a mixture of smaller and larger events unfold as the otter and his owner settle down in their new country home.

As children's film

Ring of Bright Water was definitely made as a children's film as the majority of the action is taken up by the pleasantly-named Mij the otter frolicking around in Scotland. Sometimes this is taken to extremes as whole 10 minute sections are devoted to Mij's scampering around a puddle or on his owner, punctuated only by some mildly amused adults watching him. Quite often a long scene like this in one location is followed with only one line of dialogue and then a transition to another 10 minute bout of frolicking, occassionaly with a dog as well.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for watching frolicking otters, but there is probably a limit for most people. Its pleasant enough viewing if that's all you want out of the film, but that's pretty much it. There are a few inevitable moral messages in the film (it wouldn't be a kid's film without them) and a rather unexpected end section, but otherwise Mij is the star.

For a children's film it's rather surprising that there are so few children in it. I don't think any child has a speaking role and the only scene that sticks in my mind as I only remember seeing them on the train. Incidentally, my favourite line in the film occurs just before boarding the train as the owner has to come up with a way to describe Mij so as to pretend he is a dog. Maybe its worth watching just for that.

No animals were harmed in the making of this film?

Being the 60s, I certainly didn't see this disclaimer at the end of the movie. In fact, if you are a particular animal lover you might want to avoid watching a section about 2/3 of the way into the film where they hunt a basking shark. I doubt that the actors caught it themselves, but they certainly chop it up - and all for a film! I hope that this was something that would have happened regardless of the filming and that it wasn't killed for a 2 minute scene and a rubbish joke 20 minutes later.
Overall

The narrator's voice pervades this film is a slow mumbling way. Unfortunately it verges on the irritating rather than the, probably intended, calming. But all in all it's a quaint little snippet of 60s filmography. The otter scenes are wicked - and I suppose the film is worth seeing if you are a fan of them - but otherwise it might be one to skip. In its favour its pretty short and it works well as a film in the background. Perhaps its worth investing in to send your kids off to sleep.

Possibly due to its lack of popularity its not the cheapest film to get hold of on DVD. Its very cheap if you get it used on VHS, but Amazon has it listed for about £5.99 on DVD. If you're feeling nostalgic for a 'good old traditional' children's film then this might be it, but that doesn't necessarily mean its good!

Thanks for reading!

© tac20 

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