The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025) - Film Review

      **The Ballad of Wallis Island, 2025.**

      Directed by James Griffiths.

      Starring Tom Basden, Tim Key, Carey Mulligan, Sian Clifford, Akemnji Ndifornyen, Steve Marsh, Luka Downie, and Kerrie Thomason.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      Eccentric lottery winner Charles resides alone on a secluded island and dreams of hiring his favorite musician, Herb McGwyer, for a private concert. Unbeknownst to Herb, Charles has also enlisted Herb’s former bandmate and ex-girlfriend, Nell, along with her new husband, to perform beloved hits. As tensions rise and old conflicts emerge, stormy weather confines them all to the island, and Charles desperately seeks a way to make his dream concert happen.

      One might think that living on a stunning, isolated Welsh island, away from society and technology (to the extent that the owner of the only local store is unfamiliar with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups), and having the wealth to arrange a private concert for a favorite band would be a dream come true. However, for Charles (Tim Key, also part of the talented screenwriting duo), it goes deeper; he lost a partner years ago who shared his passion. In James Griffiths' The Ballad of Wallis Island, making this dream a reality is of paramount importance.

      Charles doesn’t appear outwardly melancholic; rather, he dedicates his waking moments to lifting the mood with quirky or literal-minded jokes. His humor serves as a coping mechanism for the internal pain that he hopes this concert will alleviate. Yet, there are logistical challenges to his plan. He avoids informing McGwyer Mortimer's Herb McGwyer (one half of the band, portrayed by screenwriting partner Tom Basden) that Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan), his other former half in music and life, will be attending with her new partner, Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen). Herb, a struggling solo artist, would likely have turned down the offer immediately had he known.

      Through kindness and humor, Charles endeavors to mend the lingering animosity stemming from Herb abruptly transitioning to a solo rock career, accusing Nell of wanting to be "mainstream," without recognizing that his own career is largely seen as a joke, despite the enthusiasm of his superfan. In reality, he is only accepting this gig to earn enough for a tour and maintain some relevance (he has a new album coming out with a rather ridiculous cover). Herb also criticizes Nell for leading a more ordinary life away from the music industry, almost refusing to believe she could be content. Nevertheless, he starts to open up and sing again with Nell (while Michael sets off on a birdwatching tour around the island), rekindling feelings in both.

      "You belong together," says Charles.

      What's intriguing (and heartbreaking for Herb) is that Nell’s rekindled passion is purely for the art and a reclamation of those songs. This creates a thoughtful dialogue about art and its differing meanings for consumers and artists alike. The Ballad of Wallis Island is a film that could easily fall into clichés but wisely avoids them, even while teetering on the edge. While it doesn’t entirely evade such pitfalls, it offers clever subversions. Remarkably, it is a short film adaptation that doesn’t feel constrained, as James Griffiths, Tim Key, and Tom Basden have naturally expanded the narrative with sharp observations about life and art.

      Don’t get lost in the drama; this film is also filled with humor. Almost everything Charles says or does is an entertaining twist related to an inconvenience faced by Herb or a ridiculous comment about something so absurd that it elicits laughter (like dryly pointing out that the number plaques symbolize his winning lottery numbers). Meanwhile, his appreciation for Nell is candidly lesser (they are not being paid equally for the gig), and at times, it seems a bit creepy but remains harmless and humorous, especially considering he once bought what he believed was her lock of hair online. The delicate balance here is that he also treats her with respect and acknowledges her part in a collaboration that brought joy to him and his former partners.

      Beyond the humor and his determination to host this concert as a tribute to his late partner lies a sense of loneliness and insecurity about starting anew. The single mother who runs the local store (Sian Clifford), oblivious to Reese's or modern music? Charles has a crush on her but is hesitant to express it. He may also be grappling with moving forward from the past, much like Herb. Thus, The Ballad of Wallis Island, featuring contrasting performances from the insightful screenwriting duo of Tim Key and Tom Basden, quirky British humor, beautiful depictions of the island (especially along the beach with various pebble configurations), and catchy folk-rock tunes, builds to a significant emotional climax.

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