---
title: "The Ballad of Wallis Island"
year: 2025
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-ballad-of-wallis-island"
fi1m_id: "the-ballad-of-wallis-island"
imdb_id: "tt27674982"
tmdb_id: 1122099
wikidata_id: "Q125274110"
fi1m_score: 78
critics_score: 77
critics_reviews: 14
published: "2026-09-09"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:37:51.426572+00:00"
region: "AR"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025)

Directed by James Griffiths · 1h 40m · Comedy, Drama, Music

## Identity

The Ballad of Wallis Island

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-ballad-of-wallis-island
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-ballad-of-wallis-island
- **IMDb ID:** tt27674982
- **TMDB ID:** 1122099
- **Wikidata ID:** Q125274110
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27674982/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1122099, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125274110

**Fi1m score: 78** · Critics 77 from 14 reviews

*In a sentence:* A lottery winner buys a folk gig for an audience of one, then cannot stop talking through the soundcheck; we would have paid too

> Tim Key and Tom Basden stretch their 2007 short into a small, funny, damp film about a folk duo reunited on a Welsh island for an audience of one. The chatter wears in places; the songs and Carey Mulligan hold it together.

## Synopsis

Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden), a folk singer some years past his best-known work, takes a boat to a small Welsh island to play a private concert. His host is Charles Heath (Tim Key), a lottery winner who talks in puns and knows every word Herb has ever recorded. Herb intends to take the fee and leave on the next boat. Then Carey Mulligan arrives as Nell Mortimer, the other half of the duo Herb once belonged to; Charles has booked her too, and not mentioned it. Sian Clifford and Akemnji Ndifornyen complete the cast as Amanda and Michael. Written by Basden and Key from their own 2007 short and directed by James Griffiths, it runs 100 minutes.

## Review

Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden) is a folk singer whose good years are behind him, and he has taken a boat to a small Welsh island because Charles Heath (Tim Key) won the lottery and wants to spend some of it on a private concert. Charles talks constantly, mostly in puns, and Herb wants the money and the boat home. Then Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) arrives. She is the other half of the duo Herb used to be in, and the other half of a relationship he has not finished with, and Charles has booked them both and not mentioned it to Herb. That is the whole film, and it is a good one: funnier than the set-up promises, sadder than you expect, and a little worn by the end.

Basden and Key have stretched their own 2007 short to 100 minutes, and James Griffiths directs it without padding. The script has one engine, which is that Charles cannot bear a silence and Herb cannot bear Charles. Key makes this work far longer than it should. Charles offers tea before Herb is out of his wet clothes, answers questions nobody asked and narrates his own walk to the kitchen. Key plays him as a man who has learned to fill every gap because of what lives in the gaps, and the film gets round to what that is in its own time.

G. Magni Ágústsson shoots the island in the weather it actually has. The sky is low, the grass is wet, the sea is the colour of pewter and nobody’s hair is dry for long. Alexandra Toomey’s production design gives Charles a house crammed with records and framed things, with a kitchen holding more mugs than one man could use. Gabriela Yiaxis puts Herb in a black jacket the island does not want and Charles in waterproofs he barely takes off. Quin Williams cuts to let the awkward pauses sit, and Adem Ilhan’s score stays out of the way, so that when a guitar starts you notice.

The songs are the reason it holds. Basden and Mulligan sing them straight, in full, without cutaways to anyone being moved, and they are good enough that the film’s claim that this duo once mattered is not a stretch. The first time the two of them sing together, in Charles’s front room, we stopped waiting for the next joke and did not notice we had stopped. It was the harmony that did it, and the look on Basden’s face when it came back to him. Mulligan plays Nell as a woman who left this life on purpose and is not sorry, and she is warm without being soft. She is also given less than she deserves. Akemnji Ndifornyen, as Michael, gets less still, and Sian Clifford is funny in every scene she has as Amanda and is in too few of them.

The problems are the ones you would guess. Charles’s patter drives the film and also slows it, and there is a stretch in the middle where the same joke arrives for the fourth time and we felt our patience thin. The last movement leans on feeling harder than it needs to, with Ilhan’s music finally stepping forward to make sure. And the shape of the thing is visible from the boat: two people who once made something together are put on an island and asked to talk. We knew where it was going. We were still glad when it got there.

Small British comedies about damp men in remote places have a long tradition and a low hit rate, and this one is nearer the top of it than the bottom. It is kind, and it knows the difference between a laugh and a lesson, which is more than most in the genre manage. Most critics have landed about where we have.

Watch it with someone you used to make things with, or at least someone who will not talk over the songs. Charles would.

*Fi1m score 78, published 9 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews for The Ballad of Wallis Island are warm and closely grouped. Most critics call it a small, bittersweet British comedy that starts as an odd-couple farce and deepens into something about grief and letting go. The praise clusters on three things: the chemistry between Tom Basden and Tim Key, Carey Mulligan’s performance as Nell, and the original folk songs, which several reviews say carry the film’s emotional weight rather than decorating it.

Reservations are mild and repeated: the humour is uneven, the sentiment sometimes tips into the saccharine, and the story follows a familiar shape. Radio Times notes that how funny it plays depends on the viewer’s tolerance for Key’s comic style. Two critics dissent outright. The New York Times finds it damp and depressing, with only Mulligan to recommend it, and The Wrap calls it mawkish and contrived, with repetitive jokes and a tiresome central character. Otherwise the spread is narrow.

## Straight answers

**Is The Ballad of Wallis Island worth watching?**

*The Ballad of Wallis Island* is worth watching for anyone who likes small British comedies about awkward men in the rain, and we scored it 78. Tim Key's constant patter carries the film and slows it in the middle, but the folk songs, sung in full by Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan, hold it together.

**How long is The Ballad of Wallis Island, and what is it rated?**

*The Ballad of Wallis Island* runs 1h 40m. It is a comedy and drama film.

**Where can I watch The Ballad of Wallis Island in Argentina?**

*The Ballad of Wallis Island* is not on any streaming or rental service in Argentina at the moment. It is available in 29 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is The Ballad of Wallis Island, and is it suitable for children?**

*The Ballad of Wallis Island* is a 12A and contains no violence or frightening material; its difficulties are emotional, an old relationship left unfinished and a host who cannot bear silence. It suits older children and teenagers who can sit through a hundred minutes of talk and folk songs, though younger ones may find little in it for them.

**How does The Ballad of Wallis Island compare to Local Hero?**

*The Ballad of Wallis Island* and [*Local Hero*](https://film.one/film/local-hero) both drop an outsider onto a remote coast and let the people there undo him, but the earlier film is the fuller of the two. Bill Forsyth's is about a whole village and a property deal; this one is three people in a wet house, with Tim Key's puns and two singers doing most of the work. Choose *Local Hero* for breadth and *Wallis Island* for the songs.

**What should I watch after The Ballad of Wallis Island?**

After *The Ballad of Wallis Island*, try [*Local Hero*](https://film.one/film/local-hero) (1983, Fi1m 86): Another outsider undone by a remote coast and the people who live on it. Then [*Once*](https://film.one/film/once) (2007, Fi1m 88): Two people who sing better together than they talk, filmed for almost nothing; and [*Inside Llewyn Davis*](https://film.one/film/inside-llewyn-davis) (2013, Fi1m 87): The folk singer’s life in freefall, colder and funnier and with no lottery win.

### Reviews we read (22)

- **Empire**, Ian Freer (85/100, inferred): The film is a warm, perceptive and quietly life-affirming small-scale treat that finds a sweet spot between heart and humour while sensitively exploring love, loss and reconciling with the past. The critic singles out the compassionate writing and performances by Basden and Key, along with the moving musical reunions and character growth. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-ballad-of-wallis-island/)
- **The Observer**, Wendy Ide (85/100, inferred): This sharply observed British comedy about grief and loneliness delivers plenty of laughs while playing in a mournful minor key. It is praised as a bittersweet small treasure with standout performances from the leads. [Read](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/film-of-the-week-a-balm-for-battered-souls)
- **Little White Lies**, Katherine McLaughlin (4/4/3): The film relishes in daft physical comedy and the absurdity of the situation while elevating gentle bromance with banging folk tunes. It is a sweet but uneven story of men in crisis and the interconnectedness of humans. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-ballad-of-wallis-island)
- **The Guardian**, Catherine Bray (80/100, inferred): The film is a funny yet melancholy story of a folk duo reunited for a private gig by an eccentric lottery winner superfan. It stands out for its sincere emotional core and the beautiful straight performances of the songs. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/28/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review-lottery-folk-tim-key-carey-mulligan)
- **Time Out**, Phil de Semlyen (4/5): This charming anti-romcom is a folking delight and a beautifully observed charmer about loving and letting go. It delivers a rare blend of unkempt charm, emotional precision and soulful folk music in a rare comedy about heartbreak. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review-2025)
- **The AV Club**, Jacob Oller (B-): The critic notes that the premise of an eccentric superfan reuniting his favorite folk band yields charming, quaint results thanks to the leads' long-honed chemistry and the music's ability to build pathos, but the central duo overshadows other characters and the film leans into familiar sentimental territory. The script's maturity in handling past relationships and its refusal to fully surrender to feel-good clichés keep it spry. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review)
- **Radio Times**, Sean McGeady (3/5): This twee odd-couple comedy deepens into an affecting story of pain and acceptance. Its slow-burning warmth pays off in a lovely, bittersweet resolution, though how funny it lands depends on tolerance for the central comic style. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-0l3ns8/the-ballad-of-wallis-island/)
- **Financial Times**, Danny Leigh (★★★★☆): The low-budget British comedy proves a delight with its whimsy and poignant moments, thanks to Tim Key and Carey Mulligan. It is singled out for its surprising emotional depth and wordplay beyond the expected zany elements. [Read](https://www.ft.com/content/6253f742-6ed8-4f65-8fa9-346050e0073d)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Amy Nicholson: The critic praises the film as a sentimental and crowd-pleasing acoustic charmer expanded from a short. It highlights the quirky folk-music comedy and strong performances on a remote Welsh island setting. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-03-27/ballad-of-wallis-island-review-carey-mulligan-tim-key-tom-basdan-james-griffiths)
- **Screen Daily**: Eccentric British humour and pathos lift their voices in gentle harmony in this heartwarming comic crowd-pleaser that finds the sweet spot between silliness and sentimentality. It adds a dash of musical wistfulness to its tale of connection and moving on. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-sundance-review/5201133.article)
- **Sight and Sound**: The critic notes inconsistent humour but praises the real chemistry between Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan as former lovers and bandmates. It is an affecting comedy that contemplates the pains and pleasures of a musical career in freefall, steering clear of mawkishness through human connection. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/ballad-wallis-island-folk-duo-reunited-obsessive-fan-this-bittersweet-british-comedy)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney: The critic finds the comedy-drama a tender, funny, and disarming charmer with heart and generosity of spirit that sneaks up on cynicism, though it risks sliding into saccharine sentimentality. The lived-in performances, especially the chemistry between Basden and Key, and the pleasing folk songs provide emotional substance. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-carey-mulligan-tom-basden-tim-key-1236124724/)
- **The New York Times**, Jeannette Catsoulis: The critic finds the film a damp and depressing comedy that strains to fill its runtime with unmemorable elements. Carey Mulligan's warm performance as Nell provides the main highlight amid the downbeat story. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/movies/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review.html)
- **Variety**, Tomris Laffly (Critic's Pick): The critic calls it a soulful and winsome crowd-pleaser with a delightful trio of leads in a quirky music-filled comedy. It singles out the eccentric story and picturesque Welsh shores for praise. [Read](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review-1236286816/)
- **Digital Spy**, Ian Sandwell (5/5): This is a funny, tender dramedy about grief and lost opportunities as a pun-loving lottery winner reunites a former folk duo on his island, with unexpected results. The critic highlights the terrific believable music, winning performances (especially Tim Key's endearing oddball), consistent humor, and emotional impact that makes it the best British film of the year so far. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a64902883/ballad-of-wallis-island-review/)
- **Collider**, Anna Miller (90/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a delightful dramedy that starts as light comedy with folk music but becomes a heartfelt tearjerker touching on grief, lost love, and forgiveness. They single out the strong performances, especially Tim Key as the eccentric Charles, and the original music as highlights in this optimistic British fable. [Read](https://collider.com/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review/)
- **The Playlist**, Marshall Shaffer (B+): The critic calls it a humorous, heartfelt tale about the redemptive power of music, commending the eccentric yet endearing characters, original songs, and overall charming disposition despite familiar elements. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review-a-folksy-british-comedy-that-croons-charms-sundance-20250202/)
- **Eye for Film**, Andrew Robertson (80/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a bittersweet, laugh-out-loud comedy with charm, noting its appeal to fans of British radio and folk sensibilities while praising the cast's chemistry and original music. [Read](https://eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-2025-film-review-by-andrew-robertson)
- **The Skinny**, Stefania Sarrubba (★★★★): The film expands the 2007 short into a bittersweet story of a lottery winner inviting his favorite folk duo to perform privately on a remote Welsh island. The critic praises the unaltered humor, strong performances (especially Carey Mulligan), excellent songs, and emotional maturity in exploring nostalgia, art, and fleeting connections. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review)
- **Deadline**, Damon Wise (75/100, inferred): The review finds the film a charming if predictable musical rom-com buoyed by strong performances, especially from Carey Mulligan. It singles out the alt-folk numbers and Mulligan's wattage for praise while noting the humor may feel dated outside a festival setting. [Read](https://deadline.com/2025/01/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review-carey-mulligan-tim-key-tom-basden-musical-romcom-1236268442/)
- **The Wrap** (30/100, inferred): The critic pans the film as mawkish and contrived, criticizing the repetitive jokes, audience manipulation, and underutilization of Carey Mulligan. They single out the tiresome central character and lack of depth for complaint. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review/)
- **Film Stories**, James Harvey: The critic praises this sweet, occasionally awkward British comedy as a charming return to form for the genre, highlighting the realistic optimism in its storytelling and the standout performances and folk music. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review-acoustic-comedy-with-charm-to-spare/)

## Details

- **Director:** James Griffiths
- **Director:** James Griffiths
- **Screenplay:** Tom Basden, Tim Key
- **Cinematography:** G. Magni Ágústsson
- **Editor:** Quin Williams
- **Music:** Adem Ilhan
- **Production design:** Alexandra Toomey
- **Costume design:** Gabriela Yiaxis
- **Producer:** Rupert Majendie
- **Cast:** Tom Basden as Herb McGwyer; Tim Key as Charles Heath; Carey Mulligan as Nell Mortimer; Sian Clifford as Amanda; Akemnji Ndifornyen as Michael; Steve Marsh as Peter; Luka Downie as Marcus; Kerrie Thomason as Marie
- **Runtime:** 1h 40m
- **First release (the US):** 25 January 2025
- **Genres:** Comedy, Drama, Music
- **Box office:** $736,965
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjbVZWVWzPU

## Where to watch in Argentina

Not streaming, renting or buying in Argentina at the last check.

Also available in: AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, FI, FR, GB, HR, HU, IE, IT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PL, RO, RS, SE, TR, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Local Hero* (1983), Fi1m 86: Another outsider undone by a remote coast and the people who live on it — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/local-hero.md)
- *Once* (2007), Fi1m 88: Two people who sing better together than they talk, filmed for almost nothing — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/once.md)
- *Inside Llewyn Davis* (2013), Fi1m 87: The folk singer’s life in freefall, colder and funnier and with no lottery win — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/inside-llewyn-davis.md)
- *Detectorists* (2014), Fi1m 87: Two men, a field, a hobby nobody understands, and more feeling than expected — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/tv/detectorists.md)
- *Kikujiro* (1999): An odd couple on a journey, the loud one hiding a grief he cannot say

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© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-ballad-of-wallis-island