I picked this up from one of those cheap DVD racks in a grocery store near my home. What drew me in was the otter since I'm a ferret owner and find these ferret cousins to be equally appealing. I didn't expect it to be such a nice story with such amazing footage of the adorable otter, Mij. I'm sure a lot of the interactions between otter and human had to be ad lib and the result is pure delight. It's also got some really funny scenes - especially when Mij's owner is buying a train ticket to Scotland and tells the ticket booth he has a "diving terrier" and when Mij gets loose on the train. The ensuing events made me realize Mr. Bean's slapstick was certainly nothing new!

The footage in Scotland is absolutely gorgeous and further convinced me I need to visit there someday. The story does have some sad moments as other reviewers have revealed but all in all your left with a warm feeling of love between an animal and his owner and that life truly does go on. If you've ever loved - and lost - a pet you will truly love this movie.

This is it if you're looking for some comedy, some drama, and a hilarious, lovable otter named Mij that this guy saves and takes home as a pet. Yes, he has a lovable snorting otter named Mij.
Mij is an exceptional character in his own right and provides hours of entertainment and a lasting impression afterwords. I still hear his snorting "whirlpools of laughter" ringing in my ears and the wet hump of his tail. If you like animals and you like nature (the scenery is gorgeous--shot in Scotland) and you like adventure--and even if you don't, come MEET MIJ.

I saw this movie when I was 7 years old and I never forgot it.Even at such a young age I could appreciate the humor and beauty of it. Theres just one thing, if you are buying it for a young child I would really reconsider. It had an overwhelming affect on me as a 7 year old to see Mij get killed.It was my first experience with death. I left the theater hystericaly crying,gave me nightmares and made me very fearful that people and animals I love would die. I had been looking for this movie for a long time and when I finally found it and watched it, it made me cry again,but now I can appreciate the end and how life goes on and the beauty in that.I think its a great movie but for older children (11 yrs old) and adults.

This film is a highly fictionalized version of what was actually a true story in the book of the same name by Gavin Maxwell. As fiction, the screenplay takes dramatic license in ways both entertaining and trivializing. But what the film does most compellingly depict is the beauty of the Scottish shore, the uniqueness and remarkability of otters, and the life-changing relationship between a man and his otter. I was one of the children who grew up watching the movie, "Born Free." Those not of this generation may not be able to relate to the effect the movie ("Born Free") had on our culture and our awareness of animals as conscious beings (probably had a big part in giving rise to the enthusiasm for animal rights and the animal liberation movement that occurred some years later). I found "Ring of Bright Water" equally moving, albeit not for the same reasons, but for that same way of depicting animals with dignity and humor. In the more than ten years since I've seen this movie, I never forgot it and eventually bought a copy of my own [....])

Gavin Maxwell's wonderful book can be tough going for children, though my 10-year-old enjoyed having it read aloud to him, with some paraphrasing of the gnarlier bits of prose. The film, only loosely based on the book, is a good alternative, with lots of footage of otter frolicking in a beautiful setting, and just enough plot to keep things interesting. Warning, children will find the death of Mij unsettling, and may not be completely soothed by the upbeat conclusion of the film.