Every once in a while, a film comes along, seemingly out of nowhere, and surprises you in the most unexpected and delightful way. The Ballad of Wallis Island is tailored perfectly to this description, with the British music dramedy being one of the most touching and arresting titles of the year so far.
Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden) has become a down-on-his-luck solo artist after formerly achieving success as one half of the folk duo McGwyer Mortimer. Strapped for cash, Herb agrees to a small-scale gig on a remote island, organised by McGwyer Mortimer super fan Charles Heath (Tim Key). Charles is an eccentric and reclusive double-lottery winner, and it is eventually revealed that this is no gig, but rather a private concert for an audience of one – himself. Charles has also invited Herb’s former musical and romantic partner Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) to complete this reunion and fulfill his fantasy, without telling Herb prior to her arrival. As the pair try to recreate the magic they once had, old tensions rise due to unresolved feelings and the presence of Nell’s new American bird-watching husband Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen). Will they be able to deliver and fill the void in Charles’s lonely heart?
The Ballad of Wallis Island expands upon director James Griffiths’s 2007 short film The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island, which also featured Basden and Key in their original roles as Herb and Charles. All three key players are back this time round, with the addition of Mulligan, and the result is an absolutely breathtaking crowdpleaser. From the get-go, Griffiths sets a warm and endearing tone when Herb arrives to the island in a tiny boat and gets drenched due to the lack of a dock or any proper facilities. The coastal landscape of Wallis Island is beautifully shot and works as a cozy backdrop for the characters to slowly reveal all of their layers. Basden impressively captures the essence of Herb’s brooding and wounded ego that it is in search of something to mend it. Academy Award-nominee Mulligan might be the most famous name in the cast, but she is given the least to do, which isn’t a criticism. This allows for Key to shine as Charles, in one of the most joyful and touching performances put to screen in quite some time. Key creates a character who is wholesome, humble, playful and doesn’t know how to keep quiet. This is hilariously driven home in a scene where Charles says he is speechless after watching Herb and Nell perform together, and Herb replies “Well, you’re not”. His one-liners are endlessly quotable, but the melancholic side of his performance reveals the film’s true genius. Charles had been widowed for five years, with his wife having loved McGwyer Mortimer, and it becomes clear as to why them performing together means so much to him. The way his bubbly persona shifts and the look on his face changes when she is mentioned is a simple example of what makes a truly great actor. Aside from the excellent character work, audiences will appreciate the film’s authenticity and commitment to avoiding romantic clichés, which makes the resolution feel all the more satisfying and effective.
The Ballad of Wallis Island is a small-scale marvel, with a beautiful and uplifting story that is elevated by wonderfully rounded characters and brilliantly quirky humour. Like the best John Carney films, it celebrates the power of music through human connection, and is destined to become a British classic.
