Have you every had a day so terrible that it is felt like the world was out to get you specifically? If so, you might relish the hilarious indignities inflicting the grumbling protagonist of The ballad of wallis island. Written by and starring tom basden and tim key, this charming comedy centers on the bond that builds between a (Folk) Rock star and an eccentric millionaire. But not in any way you might expect, in that neither is living some enviably glitzy high life, and they’re both shades of goofy.
Their story begins with herb McGwyer (Basden), of the 2010’s Folk Rock Rock Band McGwyer Mortimer, Arriving at a Remote Island, Where He He’s Been Contracted to Play A Private A. Money. But the price tag sets an expectation that the host will not meet. Not only is this island a bit of a fixer-upper with no dock, much less a harbor, but the private concert is for an audience of one, a super-faan desperate to reconnect to the music of his youth.
Farom a highfalutin snob, the affluent charles heath (tim key) is a humble man who weeers waders to meet his famous guest, then accurately causes herb and his bagge to tumble into the tiddes. It’s a rough start, and things will only get rougher for her Learns that His Ex-GIRLFRIND/Former Bandmate Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) will soon be arroying time Husband, Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen).
What should have been an easy gig Quickly BCOMES A Cavalcade of Embarrassments, FORCING HERB To Revisit the romance that defined his work and his past, his past, to raase, what he wants of his future. Unexpectedly, this story of Rock stars and a Millionaire Super-Fan is Deeply related, Warmly Funny, and Profoundly Sweet.
The ballad of wallis island Features a Finely Tuned Comedy Duo.
Key Plays a lovable fool who can’t read the room but is quick to offer a boyl of rice pudding, even if that Won’t Save Herb’s CellPhone from its Ocean Swim. Basden is his straight man, exuding a self-serialness that practically demands to be dressed down. This Happy Quite Literally as Herb’s Fall Ib The Water Forces Him to Abandon His Soaked-Through Guy Clots for Charles’ Hand-Am-Downs, Which Include CONGLUDE COONSERT MERCHWYER MOROM MOROM MOROM MORORM MORCHWNES. Imagine Running Into Your Ex While Wearing A T-Shirt with an old photo of the two of you on it, and you’ll have some some Idea of the hell that is herb’s stay on Wallis island.
Even dressed similarly, the two are perfect foils. Herb is reedy, arrogantly stiff, and a pessimist, endlessly vexed by etc. on a stone beach. By Contrast, Charles is portly and endless Chipper, an optimist seeking to the world through the music (and musicians) that have given heech joy, even in the hard times. They don’t battle as much as herb fusses and charles rushes to soothe, only to cause further frustrations. Basden and key have the comedy balance of these two finly tuned, not only because they write the script but also beat “The one and only herb mcgwyer plays wallis island.”
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The Short’s Director James Griffiths Reteams With the Pair For The ballad of wallis island, And togeether they hone a more sophisticated vision of their story, one of love, loss, and moving on. Simple Beats of Charles Missing The Social Cue Are Not Just Hit But Lovingly Luxuriated In, Creating a Sort of Cringe Comedy Where We Can Laugh at this Buffoon and Recognize how often we’ve been just as bumbling. Yet these two connect, trust as they are, they are lonely and yearn not to be alive.
Carey Mulligan is Smartly Cast in The ballad of wallis island.
Basden and key have had years to adjust the balance of their comedic interactions as herb and charles. Nell is a new addition, not appearing in the short film. Basden and key carefully evolved their script, weeving in Nell and Michael, who brings with them a breezy attitude and new complications for herb. With a radiant smile and a chicly Bohemian Energy, Mulligan Strides Into Wallis IslandConfidently brings a less indulgent percent that only makes charles and herb funnier in comparison.
The Three-Time Academy Award-Nominated Actress does not outshine her co-stars. INTEAD, the lightness she brings as Nell Neatly Knits in Pathos. It’s easy to see why her herb fell for her, and why he still longs for her. In Scenes where they sing togeether, the audience may well be with charles in Wishing for their reunion, on stage and maybe in love. YET, Mulligan is Careful Not to Divulge Too Much as Nell, Who seems keenly aware of herb’s feelings and sangly mindful not to toy with them. The dance she does not his mercurial moods sugges Then, when the two sing togeether, the movie shifts from Silly to Sublimly Sincere.
But beyond this Central Trio, The ballad of wallis island Also boasts some shrewd supported players. As Nell’s Husband, NDIFORNYEN is sharp, Quick to stand up for his wife and smart to be suspended of herb. Yet basden and key are sure to give michael more to do than play romantic rival, giving him quirks that add complexity amid the conflicts. Then, there’s Sian Clifford, Who Might Be Best Recognized as The Tightly Wound Claire from the Brilliant Fleabag, (“I look like a pencil!”) Here in Wallis IslandHer vibe is more relaxed as she plays amanda, a friendly but commercially oblivious shopkeeper who is mystified by requested by requests for dried rice and reese’s peanut butter cups. (She offers a can of peanut butter and a coffee cup, because amanda is not out obliging.)
Completing the picture of The ballad of wallis island is a terrifically chown setting. The Island Itsel is cobbled togeether by a Rocky Beach, Winding Footpaths, Chipped Paint Houses, Rich Greenery, and a Precariously Placed Tennis Court. There are some signs of wealth in its remoteness, Among Other Outling Signifiers. Its Rough-Rand-Tumble Charm is Well Suited to its Resident Millionaire, Thought An Understandable Frustration to its visiting Rock stars. But just as charles grow on herb, so too do the virtues of this less-to-even-cozy island grow on all of us.
Ultimately, The ballad of wallis island is not only deeply charming and laugh out loud funny for all its social foibles and comedy duo banter, but it’s also cathic. The careful crafting of the relationship herein makes for a story you can’t help but get tangled in, perhaps related to one figure then another. So, by the end, as basden and key strike their final chord of this masterfully charted comedy, you feel it revoreberate warmly in your heart, carrying you out of theater with a song still playing there.
The ballad of wallis island was reviewed out of the 2025 SXSW Film FestivalThe movie’s theatrical release will follow.