Similar in spirit to "Born Free," a movie inspired by a popular book about a real-life couple's friendship with lions they set free, "Ring of Bright Water" arrived on the screen with the same pair actors and, as the movies did for Elsa the lion, made a star out of Mij the otter. A story about how human beings were beguiled by an otter might now sound as if it would be an engaging story, but as a movie, "Ring of Bright Water," is appreciably more interesting than it was as a book.

Not only does the movie offer interesting scenes of the otter's antics, but gives the viewer a good idea of how otters live, how playfully intelligent they are, and what dangers they face, not only from human beings. A cautionary note for people with sensitive children: "Ring of Bright Water" has an otter tragedy.

For families who want a child-friendly movie with something other than song-saturated animation, this is just the ticket.