The Ballad of Wallis Island

This is a gem.

It's not done good box office but may find its place on streaming channels. It won the audience award at Sundance and I can see why because it's the very essence of laugh out loud funny, coupled with truly British feel good.

Executive-produced by most of its cast including stars and writers Tim Key, and Tom Basden, who also wrote and performed the music - a critical role because its about an old Folk Rock duo - Carey Mulligan and director James Griffiths (Bad Sisters).

It's based on a 2007 short (by the same team) and tells the full story of how the aforementioned duo (Mulligan and Baden - called McGwyer and Mortimer) find themselves on a remote Welsh Island playing a gig for a reclusive Lottery winner - Tim Key as Charles.

Key has a ball as the slightly eccentric loner who simply worships McGwyer and Mortimer who had split up a decade earlier because the relationship stepped beyond the music itself.

He's got money to burn and nothing to do so he can fancily fund a one night only reunion. Needless to say not all goes to plan.

The chemistry between the three principal characters is superb: Kooky Charles, curmudgeonly McGwyer and wistful Morrison. Each riff off the other in unexpected ways and the whole is most certainly greater even than its excellent sum of parts.

In essence it's a movie about loneliness. Charles is single and lost in his life. McGwyer, too, is lost in his career and aggressively trying to feed his ego, having essentially 'sold-out'.

Only Morrison (Mulligan) has a sense of balance in her life and carries off her part beautifully and sympathetically.

It's genuinely uproariously funny in places and genuinely touching in others and adds up to a glorious 90 minutes in the cinema that we shared with 6 others. Shame.

Cloaked in comedy, lies a perfect drama about forgetting and moving on without our past. This charming film is directed by James Griffiths, who writes a script written by its two protagonists, Tom Basden and Tim Key.

It's a truly charming diversion that covers the pain with a sincere touch of British comedy wrapped in charming characters with whom you can identify in certain aspects and be invited to this concert of feelings and emotions that the film promises. It steers clear of clichés in the name of honesty and seriousness. This charming British comedy shows the full range of human relationships, but takes special care to highlight the good in each one, even if they are shrouded in grief and sadness in the process of reunion.

It's a journey toward healing and the true soul hidden within friendship and admiration. Bathed in its wonderful melody, its impeccable soundtrack, and landscapes that fill the screen with its superb photography, it's a staging of great moments, a heartfelt comedy about loss, loneliness, and moving forward, captured in impeccable performances and truly satisfying characters who hide life's imperfection in an encounter that invites emotion and gratification at every moment.

A film worth every second, an independent pastime with all the British cinema style that fits so well in this type of genre.

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.

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.

This film manages to strike a balance of being both charming and heartwarming without going overboard on either romance or sentimentality.

The humor is absolutely spot on, the entire theater was laughing out loud for many of the jokes. And the plot felt grounded, like the path of the characters lives felt realistic, and the ending was satisfying. Satisfying in the kind of way that makes you realize that life is complicated, and making the most of the good times is really important.

I was really glad I chose to see this instead of a few more mainstream options. I think that this is a big departure from the usual trending topics in film which are somewhat downbeat and focus on human suffering. This is different and feels like a validation for indie cinema. Would absolutely recommend watching this.