Cert - 12

Run-time - 1 hour 40 minutes

Director - James Griffiths

Folk musician Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden) arrives on a secluded island for a gig, only to discover it's to one person (Tim Key) and alongside his former musical and romantic partner (Carey Mulligan).

There's an unassuming nature to The Ballad Of Wallis Island. The cast and crew are clearly trying to make something great, but it feels as if they don't know just how great what they're making is. It adds to the charm and heart radiating from this gentle British indie which feels at home amongst the Paddingtons of this world.

This is perhaps best summarised in the character of Charles Heath. Played by Tim Key with wonderful texture. he's a buoyant character happy to make wordplay at any opportunity, yet there's a sense of sorrow which is brought through as we learn what folk duo McGwyer Mortimer means to him. He's paid for the former musical, and romantic, partners to perform an intimate gig on the secluded Wallis Island; unknowing that it's just for him.

However, the pair haven't seen each other for nine years; and while Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) has moved on, married and makes a living selling homemade chutneys at markets, Herb McGwyer (co-writer, alongside Key, Tom Basden) has struggled to move on. Reluctantly looking at a more commercial route for his solo career, he's still hung up on how things ended with Nell.

Through this relationship the true themes of the film come out in surprising, yet calm, ways. There's acknowledgement that sometimes things are never directly resolved, but maybe we can find resolve for ourselves. There's an understanding of messy and uncertain situations, mixed with points about loss of different kinds.

Much of this is captured in the folk songs played and performed throughout - all written by Basden and believably sounding as if they've come from the characters. The music plays as much of a role in the film as the actions and conversations, and through it we see more about where the film is developing characters.

There are plenty of heartening interactions between the three main figures, and even the few others on the island such as Sian Clifford's shopkeeper Amanda, with an enjoyable running joke about not having heard of anything the musicians ask for.

Where the humour could so easily lean into awkwardness, there's more a humour found in the shuffling tones of certain interactions. Bringing about a number of laughs and chuckles throughout, even as the more dramatic beats come through. Awkwardness and uneasy tensions are left more for the initial meetings before amicable friendships are formed.

Everything we see is portrayed with a great deal of heart. You can see and feel the collaborative care and heart that's been put into the film. All as things gently move along in very funny, entertaining fashion with unexpected reveals as to the narrative direction amongst the emotional beats.

Thoroughly heartfelt and thoroughly British, The Ballad Of Wallis Island is a real gem I'll be thinking about and wanting to revisit for quite some time.

Four stars.