THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND

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Storyline (warning: spoilers)

The Ballad of Wallis Island tells the story of Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden), a down-and-out musician and one half of the former folk duo McGwyer Mortimer. He is under contract to play a show for a quirky widowed millionaire fan of his, Charles Heath (Tim Key). Herb is unaware that Charles had contracted the other half of McGwyer, former musician and ex-partner, Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) to perform. She arrives with her new geeky birdwatcher husband, Michael (a drolly out-of-place Akemnji Ndifornyen), forcing Herb to contend with the situation’s awkwardness. Meanwhile, Charles plans to unite the two artists for his own small concert, with his immense wealth won by his two lottery winnings.
The execution of comedy-dramas is a daunting task to undertake. A filmmaker and storyteller must balance the two genres or risk one overtaking the other and ruining the storytelling. In the case of this film - an adaptation the 2007 short film The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island - expanding the story from a short film to a feature-length movie with genre balance is an even more daunting prospect.
What is admirable is that while one traces its origins, it never feels like it is retelling a story stretched to feature-length. With beautiful Welsh vistas, inviting production design, and the beautifully elegiac musical score by Adem Ilhan, the film is strikingly cinematic for such a humble story. Speaking of humble, Griffiths, Basden, and Key know balancing genre scales is to write humble characters that are compelling in their flaws and humanity while sympathetic in their plight.
Overall, The Ballad of Wallis Island is a heart-warming, emotionally stirring, and amiably amusing piece of work that transcends its humble origins and well-worn premise with wonderful performances, understated storytelling, and a marvellous balance between comedy and pathos. Highly recommended.