The Ballad of Wallis Island Brings Love Together One Last Time

There have been infamous musical breakups over the decades – Sonny and  Cher, Simon and Garfunkel, Ike and Tina Turner, The Beatles, One Direction and more.  Wonder what led to the split and if you would ever have the opportunity to see your faves together again just one last time?

After agreeing to do a private gig on a remote island, international music superstar Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden) is perplexed to learn that he’ll be playing for an audience of one—eccentric millionaire Charles (Tim Key). But the surprises don’t end there. The hotel where he’ll be staying is, in fact, Charles’ historic home. The landline he needs to use after his mobile falls into the sea? That’s a pay phone far down the lane, just outside the area’s only shop. And the seaside concert he’s set to do? That’s actually a reunion show for McGwyer Mortimer, the folk-rock duo that shot him to stardom years before. Reuniting with his old partner Nell (Carey Mulligan) after nearly a decade of estrangement brings up feelings Herb would prefer to leave behind, a situation made even more awkward with her husband Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen) having accompanied her on the journey. However, as the musicians reunite with their back catalog in preparation for the big show, Herb and Nell find their musical chemistry remains as strong as ever, but old wounds soon begin to resurface, jeopardizing the concert.

Chemistry is key with a film like this.  Basden, Mulligan and Key have it in abundance. Their performances are sweet, warm and heart wrenching while embracing the comedic elements of it all brought in by shopkeeper Amanda (played to perfection by Sian Clifford). Carey Mulligan is a cinematic chameleon able to embrace any role placed within her care and she does not disappoint as Nell.  Her performance is only enhanced by the naive sweetness Key puts on Charles and the lovelorn, yet incredibly charismatic Basden as Herb.

The songs, which bookend the film musically, are memorable and catchy.  Particularly the kitchen duet between Key Basden and Mulligan which ignites and sears your soul all at once.  It’s hard to believe that this lovely film was birthed as a short film from the Basden and Key and their co-conspirator/director James Griffiths before developing later into a feature which Griffith spearheads with gusto, heart and realness.

More importantly, The Ballad of Wallis Island gives audiences insight into how people who come into money spend on memories that matter which monetary value can’t be placed or how someone holds space in your heart for an eternity.