The Ballad of Wallis Island

The Ballad of Wallis Island is a funny and uplifting look at the awkward space somewhere between love found and lost. This is for those who appreciate a cerebral drama: little happens but much is revealed.

The premise is a little outlandish but the film unfolds into a delightfully realistic take on utterly British sensibility. Much is left unseen and unsaid with the story simmering beneath the surface, relying on nuanced performances from the tiny cast.

If you're a fan of Tim Key already, you'll enjoy seeing his humour committed to film. There are segments where you may feel that you've stumbled into an intimate corner at the Edinburgh Fringe. If you're new here, relax and enjoy it like a comforting Chicken Xacuti on a chilly night.

The film is musically-driven with Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan working together harmoniously to balance the comic relief and poignant undertones. If you enjoyed Richard Ayoade's Submarine, you'll like this. If you loved this and haven't seen Submarine, you've got the next film on your watchlist.

Little moments of hilarious physical comedy run alongside the witty dialogue and undercurrents of melancholy, which all come together to leave you with a warm smile and lingering sense of quiet.

Recapturing the past may be an enticing, seductive prospect, especially when it involves revisiting pleasant memories of days gone by. But is it realistically achievable or just wishful thinking? That's a question posed on multiple levels in the second theatrical feature from director James Griffiths. When Charles Heath (Tim Key), a wealthy, eccentric but lonely lottery winner living by himself on a remote North Atlantic island, furtively finances a command performance of his favorite now-disbanded folk rock duo - artistic and onetime-romantic partners Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden) and Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) - he hopes to relive fond memories of their once-popular musical style and recollections of the days he shared them with the love of his life. There's just one hitch - Charles conceals more than a few important details about the true nature of his plan, revelations that take the long-estranged musical duo somewhat by surprise. But, as their stay on the island unfolds, old memories are rekindled, prompting Herb and Nell to question the choices they've made and whether they want to take another shot at what they once had. As a result, Charles becomes something of an impromptu, unwitting matchmaker living vicariously through his guests' experience, enveloped in a cloak of his own bittersweet nostalgia. But, considering how the lives of all three characters have changed, can the past be brought back to life, especially now that Nell is married to an adoring husband (Akemnji Ndifornyen), Herb has moved on to new types of questionable musical projects and Charles swoons (albeit bashfully) for the owner of the island's general store (Sian Clifford)? Indeed, memories may prove to be heartwarming to relive, but can they be effectively and authentically re-created? Those are the scenarios that play out in this warm, touching alternative romcom, one that sports a quirky vibe not unlike that found in the charming comedy classic "Local Hero" (1983) mixed with the romantic reunion storyline of "A Mighty Wind" (2003). These elements are effectively enhanced by the natural, unassuming performances of the three principals, the fine original songs composed for the film and gorgeous cinematography of the craggy, windswept Welsh island location. It's rare these days that a romantic comedy provides viewers with anything more than prototypical heartstring-tugging emotions a la Hallmark Channel productions, but "The Ballad of Wallis Island" serves up more, giving audiences a lot to ponder beyond whether the often-predictable outcomes often associated with releases in this genre will ultimately materialize. This is a great, if not entirely standard, date movie, one that's sure to leave viewers with their own share of fond memories, even if they aren't necessarily the kind one might expect.

(transcript of my youtube review)

The surprise screening at the Glasgow Film Festival movie called The Ballad of Wallace Island and this is the one that ended up being my absolute favourite of the festival.

It tells the story of Charles who lives alone on a remote island Wallace Island He is a huge fan of a folk musician duo Herb Maguire and Nell His ex-partner Nell played by Carey Mulligan Tom Basden plays Herb They were a folk duo they broke up Herb went on to do a solo career Charles the guy in the middle here he came into some money and basically is paying them to put on a private show on the beach of the island he lives in said island the titular titular island wallace island essentially that's the plot of the movie

Now you may not think that's anything to write home about but this movie is so so so good it's written by Tim Key who plays plays Charles the kind of the main character the guy who lives on the island directed by James Griffiths

It reminded me a lot of the Ricky Gervais Netflix show Afterlife with the kind of the style of comedy the blend of comedy and heartfelt drama the visuals are very crisp and very clean and that reminded me of like an Apple TV show like the way it's shot the way it looks it's very crisp it's very clean.

It's very kind of idyllic although it's a you know it doesn't say it's a Scottish island but you know it's an island in the UK so you know there's various weather and waves that you're dealing with script and the performances are not perfect especially Tim Key especially the character of Charles Well you know he wrote it so he's saying his own dialogue So it is going to be not perfect It's just it's got such heart and soul and pathos to it.

The dialogue back and forth the banter back and forth between the characters You know it's comedy comedy comedy comedy emotional you know dagger comedy comedy comedy comedy emotional bit you know I mean that as a compliment you know that's that's the kind of the formula throughout the movie the songs as well the kind of the songs that the fictional folk duo sing like I really hope they release that because I would absolutely buy that album the songs were great it legit had me in tears both from laughing and from crying

Also apologies to the festival volunteer who was unlucky enough to be sat next to me tuning the screening because she had to put up with said tears and snotters and me blowing my nose and laughing one minute and then crying the next minute and I could actually tell she was looking at me at times so apologies random festival volunteer but don't blame me blame this wee gem of a movie i think it's going to be getting a cinema release in the uk i'll link to details below in the description as and when i get any of that info um i wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being my favorite movie not just of the festival but my favorite movie of as I said it was the surprise screening at the festival the day that I went to see it it was a long day I'd already seen 3 or 4 movies that day I'd done a couple of interviews as well I was absolutely shattered and I was ready to call it quits and just go home and skip this screening because as I said I was shattered and it's a surprise screening so I had no idea what movie we were going to be getting shown I'm so so so glad that I stayed and stayed to watch this 9 out of ten for The Ballad of Wallace Island- absolutel yone hundred percent- go and see this when it comes out it is bloody bloody brilliant an absolute wee gem of a movie so yeah well and everyone involved and again apologies to the festival worker who put up with me crying.

It's a British romantic comedy set during a week in 2024 on a remote island off the coast of Wales. Charles (Tim Key) is an eccentric loner who has won two large lotteries and has bought a large home on remote (fictional) Wallis Island. His wife died five years ago, and to honor her, he has booked his favorite folk-rock musicians, Herb McGwyer (Tom Basen) and Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan), who used to perform together but broke up some years ago. Herb came for the $500,000 fee and is surprised when Nell and her husband, Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen), unexpectedly arrive.

The film follows Herb's efforts to sort through Charles's sincere but muddled behavior, responding to Nell's arrival and fighting with his producers over the phone. Equally eccentric is the only shopkeeper on the island, Amanda (Sian Clifford), who never seems to have the exact goods that her customers want but is unerringly pleasant. By the end, we observe changes in Herb and Charles and some gentle, unexpected healing.

"The Ballad of Wallis Island" has quirky British humor matched with an appealing storyline. You leave the theater with a smile on your face, though the plot isn't as apparent as initially thought.

Such a lovely, cute, comedic and beautiful piece of great cinema! A nice independent vibe if more Charlotte theaters that had less common titles this would be there I miss those. A bit of sad vibe yet full of goofiness it reminds me of Banshees of Inisheerin that came out a few years ago.

I don't know why my iPad was lagging I usually review on it but my phone is good enough, lag shouldn't exist. Anyway I love the guy that played Charlie he seemed lovely and a great buddy. I didn't realize this has been out a bit I would've seen sooner but glad I did regardless it's magnificent and well crafted.