Tarka the Otter

Following the adventures of a male otter as he matures, plays, learns to fend for himself, has pups of his own, hunts and is in turn hunted, the film presents a playful, sometimes poignant but un-sentimentalised portrayal of the natural world and man's often cruel interventions within it. Narrated by Peter Ustinov, this captivating adaptation of Henry Williamson's famous novel is widely regarded as one of the greatest nature-themed films of all time. Only after rejecting several offers from Walt Disney did Williamson find a trusted director in British wildlife filmmaker David Cobham, and Tarka the Otter was released to huge acclaim in 1979. (Network)