The Ballad of Wallis Island

The second I saw the location settings I knew that this film is going to be a great one. A simple story with some great performances especially by Charles and Amanda, they nailed their characters with their unique style of innocence as people cut off from the rest of the world. Adding to that, the soundtrack took it to another level.

If you love movies with minimal characters happening at a remote location and with great soundtrack then you'll definitely love this. You might even cry a little bit if you're an emotional person, I mean I did when Herb saw those paper clippings and found out why Charles was doing what he did. A really heartwarming film with a touch of light humour, I definitely recommend you guys to watch this.

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.

(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.

One of the best films I have seen in a long time. I could watch this again and again. Heartwarming, funny, great cinematography, great script, great acting. Pulls at your heart strings just the right amount and funny all the way through. Great character development without any lags. Pace is spot on you almost wish it was longer. So good. Storyline is captivating. Scenery is beautiful and so many moments where you wish you were there. I have zero negative feedback on this. I hope more people see this. Excellent film especially in a time where all the movies seem to be about war or violence. Do not pass this one up.

This was on my radar, as the leads have been on various podcasts that I listen to promoting it. I had to travel to Sheffield though, as it's still a bit too "independent", despite Universal distributing it, for my local Cineworld. It was worth the extra travel money.

Lottery winner Charles Heath (Tim Key) uses some of his money to pay for his favourite folk duo McGwyer Mortimer to reform for a small gig on the island he lives on. When he arrives, Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden) is unaware just how small the gig's audience will be, or that Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) will also be coming. The pair were a romantic couple, as well as bandmates, but haven't seen in each other in a decade since McGwyer's decision to record a solo album.

"The Ballad of Wallis Island" is absolutely one of my favourite films of the year so far. It's genuinely funny, touching and warm. Much of the humour comes from Key who, in all fairness, is playing the sort of character that Key usually plays. Bumbling is too strong a term, but certainly a man who never knows when to let a moment sit. You do really have to like that character for the film to work, but I do. Whilst Key is probably the reason you'll enjoy the film, it doesn't work without the Basden's performance as McGwyer. He has to keep him likeable enough, whilst he makes mistakes and meets frustrations but he threads the needle well. Mulligan isn't in the film for as long as the other two, but she, of course, nails it when she arrives also.

The film becomes increasingly touching as it reaches the end, and I did wipe away a tear in the concert scene.

Excellent stuff.