Film: The Ballad of Wallis Island
I wasn't sure about this; I thought it would be full of that classic British awkwardness. And it was, but I'm glad I watched it. I like supporting British films, and there were no competing film releases this week.
The story is as straightforward as the synopsis suggests: Charles (Tim Key), a big lottery winner who lives alone and dreams of reuniting his favourite band, Mortimer-Mcgwyer (Carey Mulligan and Tom Basden). He invites them to perform on idyllic Wallis Island, turning fantasy into reality—except he never told them it was a reunion, and the ‘intimate’ gig is actually for an audience of one: himself.
My first thought is that this idea has always been in the back of my mind. In my case, it would be to reunite the original line-up of my favourite band, GUN, though I would invite everyone I know who wanted to come. The only thing is, I don' t/won' t do the lottery. I have premium bonds instead, which pay out a maximum of £1 million- plenty for anyone to do some good with.
It did make me wonder how many people would want to be in a room again with those they have less in common with. For me, it would be like meeting up with the people I went to sixth form with, as I didn't keep in touch with a single schoolmate. In the case of The Ballad of Wallis Island, the two former bandmates were also a couple. One has continued making music, albeit of a more poppy, commercial kind; the other is married, settled in LA, and now makes jams to sell at local markets. Both would need the generous payout. Both arrive by boat, which, for some unexplained reason, only goes so far, and everyone must carry their equipment while wading through water. It's one of my worst nightmares to be in such remote surroundings, but this film would be less effective if it weren't. Similarly, the fact that neither party knows the other is coming adds even more awkwardness than we already saw in the opening 10-15 minutes of the recluse Charles's character. However, once we see that Charles has a tender heart of gold, I stopped wincing and settled into the film.
The cast is small, although the scenery plays a significant part. Apart from the visiting duo, with a rarely on-screen husband in tow, we have a tiny cast of the local shopkeeper with a fleeting appearance from her son and someone would turn up with a boat every time someone threatened to leave.
Despite the featured folk music not being to my taste, The Ballad of Wallis Island is a sweet, feel-good film.
7½/10