As it was challenging to get into the big headliners of this year’s SXSW Film & TV Festival, I focused on some of the more low-key films the fest had to offer. One delightful surprise is a film that shows how fandom can sometimes be a positive thing for musical artists coping with their own personal issues. The film stars Tim Key, Tom Basden, and Carey Mulligan. It is a film that took me by surprise and won my heart.
Charles has won a lot of money from the lottery and has decided to invest his winnings in initiating the reunion of his (and his late wife’s) favorite folk duo. The duo, known as McGwyer Mortimer (Basden, Mulligan) had some success and popularity as a folk music duo, but eventually had different futures in mind and broke up. McGwyer and Mortimer had an artistic partnership and were also involved in a romantic relationship. In his overzealous ways, Charles attempts to trick both parties into performing once again for him, but this plan inevitably goes awry when the problems of their troubled relationship resurface.
Written by Tom Basden and Tim Key and directed by James Griffiths, The Ballad of Wallis Island is a charming and lovable film that deals with real issues that musical artists often contend with when their relationships grow complicated. The film also addresses the problems people coping with the loss of a romantic partner must face when their lives are forever changed.
The direction here is solid, but I was mostly taken with the writing and the performances by the actors. The true star of this movie is Tim Key, who portrays Charles, an eccentric, but well-meaning fan of the duo who hopes to heal the rift that has grown between McGwyer Mortimer. I also relished the acting and musical talent of Tom Basden, who does an outstanding job of portraying Herb McGwyer, a seemingly lost musical artist who has no idea who he is. I have always enjoyed the performances of Carey Mulligan, and her turn as Neil Mortimer is no exception. In this story, she is the voice of reason and gives a formidable presence to this film.
The Ballad of Wallis Island is a low-key, under-the-radar movie that is often sadly overlooked. Because it is such a lovely movie, I highly recommend watching it. The Ballad of Wallis Island is now available in theaters and is one of the best films available in cinema.