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Films

The Ballad of Wallis Island

26 replies

FourEyesGood · 07/06/2025 17:23

I watched this today. I expected to find it a nice, gentle, possibly slightly annoying/smug little film. It was brilliant! Really well-written, with great performances from all of the the main players (and Sian Clifford, who I didn’t know was in it until she appeared on screen), and beautiful locations. It has real heart and although I’ve usually got a flinty approach to sentimentality, it brought a tear to my eye more than once.

The screening was well-attended, so I hope it does well nationally (and maybe overseas, although some of the jokes and references were decidedly British).

OP posts:
BeachLife2 · 07/06/2025 20:35

I enjoyed it too. Seems to have been a very limited release for some reason. Not on at any of my local cinemas so ended up seeing it in an 'art house' cinema in my nearest city.

JuneFromBethesda · 08/06/2025 09:46

My husband and I saw this last night and we absolutely loved it. A beautiful film, genuinely funny and very moving. Everyone should see this

WhiteRosesInMyDreams · 08/06/2025 09:59

I want to see this! Tim Key and Tom Basden were on Adam Buxton’s podcast & were talking about it.

abnerbrownsdressinggown · 08/06/2025 17:43

DH and I saw it this afternoon and we both thought it was wonderful.

OliviaBonas · 08/06/2025 22:26

I loved this!

DifficultEggs · 08/06/2025 22:27

I saw a review that made it sound nuts, but said it could be huge.

OliviaBonas · 08/06/2025 22:36

WhiteRosesInMyDreams · 08/06/2025 09:59

I want to see this! Tim Key and Tom Basden were on Adam Buxton’s podcast & were talking about it.

I’m listening to this now, thank you.

OliviaBonas · 08/06/2025 22:36

DifficultEggs · 08/06/2025 22:27

I saw a review that made it sound nuts, but said it could be huge.

It is nuts but super funny!

sakura06 · 09/06/2025 22:42

I wanted to see this on Saturday but it was sold out at one local cinema and they only had front row at another!

EATmum · 09/06/2025 23:22

I really enjoyed it too. A film with real heart (and the soundtrack has been on repeat on my phone since).

redcord · 09/06/2025 23:22

Ah I just saw this. I heard Tim Key talking about it on Radio 2 (with Josh Widdicombe), and they were really bloody annoying tbf - lots of blokey laughing. The film, however, is very sweet and funny and took a low-key turn that was just right. Very highly recommend.

beasmithwentworth · 09/06/2025 23:35

I went to see this last Saturday. I didn’t have any expectations as just went along with a friend who wanted to see it. I loved it so much! I cried tears of laughter and then tears of emotion towards the end. Just so sweet and funny.

charabang · 10/06/2025 01:33

I saw this film tonight and loved it. Such a sweet story and I liked all the characters. So moving to read the balloon message floating in the water.

redcord · 10/06/2025 08:09

So moving to read the balloon message floating in the water.

Agree. But the sky lanterns made me think they'd be castigated on social media (here for eg!). Sooo bad for the environment!

Arran2024 · 11/06/2025 15:34

Just saw it at my local Odeon. Lunchtime and it was pretty busy. People want to see films like this and the SALT Path - it's only on once a day, at 12.15, and this is a 15 screen cinema! All adventure, sci-fi and horror films

irregularegular · 11/06/2025 15:40

Yes we loved it too. Really funny and really sweet/moving. But I was also slightly annoyed by the lanterns!

DifficultEggs · 12/06/2025 00:31

Marina Hyde and Richard Osman were raving about it on The Rest is Entertainment.

Pinkpurplepeony · 12/06/2025 14:18

This is a fabulous film, tender and very funny. Low key and gentle but thought provoking. Beautiful scenery, great acting, sweet songs, quirky house. Themes of love and loss and grief, but no emotional manipulation. No violence. Dh and I both loved it.

ComplexSatsuma · 13/06/2025 23:05

Agree it was such a lovely film, as soon as I saw the trailer I knew I would love it. Tim Key is so very talented and Carey Mulligan is wonderful as well, total gem of a film. Made me cry too!

LyndaSnellsSniff · 17/06/2025 07:39

I saw this last night after a hot, busy and frustrating day at work. It was like a balm for my frazzled senses! Just utterly charming and full of that lovely gentle but fast-paced humour. It had real heart and I thought Tim Key portrayed a grieving man perfectly.

Kaftanesque · 18/06/2025 15:55

Loved it- but sorry I was annoyed with the lantern release.If that sounds preachy I don't care.It's like the balloon release in the latest Bridget Jones film.I just wish they wouldn't normalise it.There just be a better way of portraying emotions in film.

hopeishere · 18/06/2025 16:08

Loved it too. I also wondered what it was on the lantern.

redcord · 18/06/2025 16:16

Yes, for a character who sells homemade chutney at Farmer's Markets and is married to a bird watcher, it didn't really ring true that a lantern release would fit her vibe.

I think the lantern message was to his wife? About how happy he had been with her?

NeedsMustNet · 29/06/2025 17:45

Did anyone take their children to see it? Age rating says 12 and that this is due to a few swear words and some smoking .. is there anything in it not suitable for a 9 or 10 year old?

beasmithwentworth · 29/06/2025 19:07

@NeedsMustNet - I have seen it twice and I would have thought it’s absolutely fine. Smoking and swearing - nothing remotely sexual or anything else. It’s actually got quite a lot of silly humour in all the way through which would probably appeal to that age group. It’s a fab film

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