Start the week with a film: Freedom songs in ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’

The offer is too good to refuse: a well-paying concert on an island for a select few listeners. The organiser, Charles (Tim Key), is a millionaire who is willing to pay far too much money for a few hours of the musician Herb’s time. Herb (Tom Basden), who is at an impasse in his career, turns up in a boat and promptly falls into the water.

Herb's lousy mood isn't helped by his host, a garrulous and enthusiastic superfan. Charles and his late wife were devotees of McGwyer Mortimer, the defunct band that comprised Herb and his former lover Nell (Carey Mulligan). Charles not only knows everything there is to know about the band’s music, but also possesses a near-unnerving knowledge of personal information about the musicians.

Charles's inability to maintain a healthy distance grates on Herb. Then, Nell turns up. Charles has invited her to make a McGwyer Mortimer reunion possible, but without Herb’s knowledge.

The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025), which is out on Netflix, is good-natured, humorous and emotionally fulfilling. James Griffiths’s comedy is based on the short film The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island.

Tom Basden and Tim Key have written a screenplay that has unforced humour, tender scenes and a wise take...

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