Friday, February 14, 2025

Carey Mulligan Shines in ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’: A Heartfelt Comedy-Drama That Hits All the Right Notes!

Nostalgia and the ache of moving on permeate every frame of The Ballad of Wallis Island, lending an air of precious sentimentality that threatens to slide into the saccharine. However, James Griffiths’ tender comedy-drama, featuring Carey Mulligan, also has a ton of heart, a generosity of spirit, and an ultimately disarming sweetness that make it sneak up on you, cynicism be damned. The film is quite funny, in an eccentric, decidedly British way that either resonates with you or it doesn’t. Imagine John Carney’s Once placed in the middle of a reluctant buddy movie about finding hope in loss, and you’re halfway there.

There’s probably no way to describe the film without making it sound twee. But the performances, particularly Carey Mulligan’s, are so lived-in that what could have been an overdose of whimsy instead acquires emotional substance in its reflections on life. Above all, it emphasizes accepting the sadness and regrets of the past while finding a forward path. Like the characters, the setting is also fully inhabited, though sparsely populated — a picturesque Welsh coastal town standing in for the fictitious island of the title.

The Ballad of Wallis Island presents a brew of music, romantic melancholy, and comedy that goes down easily. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, with a release date of Friday, March 28. The cast includes Tom Basden, Tim Key, Sian Clifford, Akemnji Ndifordyen, and, of course, Carey Mulligan. Griffiths directs from a screenplay by Basden and Key, and the film runs for 1 hour and 40 minutes.

The story unfolds on a sleepy spot of land where established music star Herb McGwyer, played by Tom Basden, arrives by rowboat for a lucrative gig. Annoyed to discover that there’s neither a harbor nor even a wharf, he wades ashore, which marks the beginning of a disastrous arrival. He falls into the water, putting his cellphone out of commission and worsening his already sour mood. To add insult to injury, he finds that there’s no hotel on the island; instead, he’ll be staying with the irritatingly cheerful Charles, played by Tim Key, who serves as his one-man welcoming party on the beach. “Can’t they send a car?” Herb asks, humorously displaying a sense of privilege despite the absence of roads.

As dismissive as Herb is, his sarcastic grumbling bounces right off of Charles, who delights in groan-worthy puns and silly wordplay. The widower is a two-time National Lottery winner, living an uncomplicated existence in an old mansion that is both grand and shabby. While he seldom stops talking, a look in his eyes during moments of silence suggests that underneath all the jovial banter lies a man yearning for connection.

Charles’ devotion to the soulful folk-rock and delicate harmonies of McGwyer Mortimer borders on religious. The duo’s popularity peaked in 2014, not long before their acrimonious split as creative collaborators and romantic partners. Herb has reluctantly agreed to play a single acoustic concert on Wallis Island, supposedly for an audience of “less than 100,” for which he will receive the princely sum of half a million pounds. He perceives Charles as a superfan nutjob as he communicates with his manager from a payphone outside the local shop, lamenting, “I’m in Misery, I’m going to wake up with no ankles.”

What Charles has failed to mention is that he has invited Nell Mortimer, played by Carey Mulligan, the other half of the famous duo, to the island. One crucial detail he has conveniently left out is that the show will be attended by just one audience member, Charles himself. The awkward reunion between Herb and Nell, after nine years of estrangement, becomes even more uncomfortable when she arrives with her American husband, Michael. While Herb has remained active in the music business as a solo artist, veering into unfulfilling commercial pop and collaborations with younger stars, Nell has seemingly left all that behind. She appears content with her life in Portland, Oregon, making chutney to sell at the local farmers market. Yet it turns out that both McGwyer and Mortimer need the money.

Screenwriters Tom Basden and Tim Key, who developed the screenplay from their 2007 short The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island, employ a somewhat contrived method to get Michael out of the picture by making him a birdwatching enthusiast. Every attempt he makes to persuade Herb to partake in their music is met with reluctance. However, during rehearsals, when Herb and Nell finally sing together, the atmosphere turns magical, momentarily speechless before returning to banter. This moment highlights a bittersweet connection as they confront the past together.

The duo’s songs are played throughout the film, and their first performance together raises the stakes, kicking up the movie’s poignancy. The songs, penned by Basden, are melodious and pleasing to the ear, containing echoes of nostalgia that stir memories for both characters as they reflect on shared experiences and unresolved feelings.

Carey Mulligan’s performance brings a luminous self-possession that recalls her earlier portrayal of a folk singer in the Coens’ classic Inside Llewyn Davis. There is a softness to Nell, interspersed with moments of sharpness, as she remains grounded and resistant to the notion of a professional reunion with Herb. The film fundamentally showcases an odd-couple love story — more precisely, the evolving dynamic between Herb and Charles, as they navigate their interactions.

Basden, with an angular, lanky appearance reminiscent of David Tennant, is a master of snarky delivery. While he initially struggles with Charles’ incessant chatter, the latter’s infectious passion for McGwyer Mortimer’s music prompts Herb to confront how far his work has strayed from his authentic voice. Alongside Key, they have built a rapport over years of collaboration, appearing effortlessly connected on-screen as they navigate moments of comedy intertwined with moments of emotional depth.

As the film progresses, the narrative evolves beyond mere nostalgia for shared music, leading to deeper themes of connection and loss. Herb’s journey toward self-discovery unfolds as he interacts with Charles, whose loneliness is masked by dad jokes but ultimately surfaces as he confronts his need to connect with others. With encouragement from Nell and a gentle nudge from Herb, Charles musters the courage to express his feelings for Amanda, portrayed by the talented Sian Clifford, who offers a warm counterbalance to the emotional landscape of the film.

Nell and the all-important journey of self-acceptance for both Herb and Charles occurs in a naturally lit environment, masterfully captured by cinematographer G. Magni Ágústsson, who highlights the physical beauty of the location while avoiding the trap of becoming overly postcard-like. Griffiths focuses the film on the characters and grants the actors ample space to explore the depths of their feelings.

Ultimately, The Ballad of Wallis Island does not break new ground, but it offers an unexpectedly pleasurable and slightly bittersweet watch, interspersed with sweet, soothing music that evokes various emotions. Carey Mulligan’s enchanting performance shines throughout, adding weight to the connection and themes of the film, affirming her capacity to move viewers through moments of lightness and deeper reflection.

As the credits roll, the lingering resonance of Mulligan’s performance invites viewers to contemplate their connections and the importance of finding one’s authentic voice amid life’s uncertainties. The film connects with audiences, emphasizing that even in the most challenging times, there’s potential for redemption and reconnection, leaving hearts a little lighter but also more introspective.

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