THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND (A) - This perfect little film was years in the making. It's a feature-length version of a 28-minute short released in 2007. It is funny and full of heart; it's an earnest labor of love that tells a somber story without wallowing in any emotional muck.
Tom Basden co-wrote the screenplay, wrote all the songs and stars as Herb McGwyer, a mid-career folk-pop performer lured to a Welsh island by a rich eccentric aiming to reunite McGwyer with his former singing partner, Nell Mortimer. Back when McGwyer-Mortimer hit the scene, their songs were deep and heartfelt; since their split (musically and romantically), she has retired to a peaceful life in Portland, Ore., and he has tinkered with his sound, hopscotching among singing partners, and catching guff for chasing commercial acceptance.
Tim Key, who co-wrote the script, plays Charles Heath, who was enriched by winning the lottery -- twice. The first millions were spent traveling the world with his beloved Marie; widowed five years ago, he does what any obsessive fan with unlimited funds would do -- he recruits both McGwyer and Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) to the remote island, without full disclosure to both of them about his plan for a reunion concert on the rocky beach for an audience of one. Tension is inevitable. Suitcases full of cash provide strong incentive to stick around and see things through.
Charles is a fount of clever wordplay, which comes off as effortlessly charming, even if we notice that his verbal diarrhea is, in part, a cover for his loneliness and lingering grief. Herb is gruff and annoyed much of the time, but he settles in once he and Nell sit down for a rehearsal (using one of his old guitars that Charles bought at auction). They easily find a musical groove, but they are personally on different planes; Nell's husband has come along for the trip, and she has no interest in rekindling any feelings with her former partner. There is a strong kinship here with the 2016 gem "A Bigger Splash," about a rock star chilling out on an island and resisting the come-ons of a former lover.
Writing those paragraphs makes it all sound so gloomy and inconsequential. But the script is smart, and it dodges all potential dramatic and comedic potholes. Even the B-story works -- Herb helps the shy Charles woo the woman in town who runs the general store (Sian Clifford, the sister from TV's "Fleabag," creating a folksy vibe that recalls shows like "Northern Exposure" and "Gilmore Girls"). Key is limber with his line deliveries; he comes across as a second-string combination of Zach Galifianakis and Ricky Gervais.
Basden's songs meet the moment, even if they evoke the '70s more than the '00s. The music is naturally woven through the narrative, and it feels real when Mulligan leans in for some tender harmonies. But the star here is the British banter, full of puns and clever wordplay but never coming across as just words being read from a script. Events unfold organically. By the time the credits rolled, my eyes started to get a bit teary, and it took me a while to sort out how much of that was sadness and how much was joy.
BONUS TRACKS
The centerpiece song is "Our Love," which has an early-'70s singer-songwriter vibe:
"Give Your Love":
"Sky Child":
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