If you’re on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram or subscribe to news outlets online, or perhaps you just flip the channel to your chosen news station, it feels like right now we are getting bad news every half hour. Waking up each day might bring out the question of “What terrible news awaits us today?” Well, here is some good news for a change. The Ballad of Wallis Island, a charming and lovely British indie film is now playing in theaters nationwide after two sets of limited releases following its buzzy premiere at Sundance and SXSW respectively.
Sadly, I missed it while covering SXSW, so the first chance I had to see it in theaters, I rushed to my local multiplex. This is a movie that I feel the world really needs right now.
The story of The Ballad of Wallis Island revolves around a charming and humble man named Charles (Tim Key). He’s widowed and lives alone on a remote island in England. He’s also a recent lottery winner. One way he chooses to spend his winnings is by hiring a broken up folk duo to travel to the island and play a private concert for him. Two angles abound, though. For starters, the musicians are not initially aware he will be the only one in the audience. Second, there’s tension between the two members of the duo as not only are they former lovers, but they didn’t exactly split off in the most amicable of ways. An awkward situation develops with Charles’ relaxed, happy go lucky nature at the center of all the drama.
When it comes to the respective members of the folk duo, Neil McGuire (Tom Baston) is going through a creative identity crisis, consumed by his delusion regarding how proud he truly is of the direction his solo career has gone. He’s uptight, frequently annoyed, and is clearly just interested in the payday he is receiving from this gig with no real interest in the fandom Charles has for his music. Nell Mortimer (Carrey Mulligan) has not written or performed music since the duo’s breakup. She never pursued a solo career and has since been living in Portland, Oregon with her husband, making and selling chutney at a local market. She needs the money, but also expressed a much more humble and joyful sentiment than her more successful ex-bandmate.
Every moment of this experience made me feel some kind of emotion. From the moment you learn that Charles is paying this duo to reunite for a private concert, you never feel he is doing it because he feels money can buy anything and when you learn of his true motivation, it is quite moving. You are guided through the narrative with a multitude of funny moments that play out in such a natural and organic fashion, never feeling like a good laugh is being forced out of you.
This is a story about how we can connect with each other as people, specifically by centering its story around a common man and two celebrities. It reflects the idea that success, money, and wealth are not the keys to happiness, but realizing moments of clarity that define a purpose for your existence in an often cruel world. There is such a lovely arc throughout the plot that brings out a multitude of lush and rich themes, backed up by the gorgeous landscapes of the titular Wallis Island and at its heart, it’s a love letter to the common individual and the impact they can make on this world.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with themes of fame, human connections, and a self-discovery of personal purpose, The Ballad of Wallis Island proved that you don’t need a big budget and big-name stars to make a movie that can craft change for the better in this world. You just need a good story, compelling characters, and a narrative journey that brings a charming voice to life in a movie that reminds us that while it seems like society constantly shows us its most negative side, there is still good among humanity and this film is a reflection of human realism in great cinema.
4.5/5
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Adam Khromachou has been a lifelong film watcher. It all began in 1989 at the age of 6
when his mom took him to see Tim Burton’s Batman. From then on, he knew cinema
was his passion. By the age of 8, he was learning about actors, directors, and even
began exploring the history of cinema. At the age of 12, a big turning point occurred
when he watched Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. It was the moment he really started
diving deep into films outside of the action and comedy genre and looked to explore
more classic cinema through breaking down the film’s notable influences. He obtained a
Bachelor's and Master's degree from Arizona State and in 2021, he launched his TikTok
channel Sunset Loner Cinema where he reviews and ranks films, as well as providing
in-depth cinematic retrospectives. His content can also be found on Instagram and
YouTube. He is also an avid user of Letterboxd and considers himself a cinema purist,
believing that films should be experienced in theaters without interruptions or
distractions. His favorite films include Pulp Fiction, GoodFellas, Cinema Paradiso, Jaws,
and The Big Lebsowski. He is also the co-host of the podcast Before We Were
Streaming.