“The Ballad of Wallis Island” (2025). Cast: Tim Key, Tom Basden, Carey Mulligan, Sian Clifford, Akemnji Ndifornyen. Director: James Griffith. Screenplay: Tom Basden and Tim Key. Source Material: Charlie Henderson, James Griffiths, Tim Key and Tom Basden, film short, “The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island” (2007). Web site. Trailer.

Recapturing the past may be an enticing, seductive prospect, especially when it involves revisiting pleasant memories of days gone by. If nothing else, it can help to plug holes of loneliness and despair in our psyche, filling us with feelings of warmth and happiness. But is it realistically achievable or just wishful thinking? At most, it may only provide fleeting relief, not nearly enough to satisfy us for the long term or to resolve the source of the underlying anguish. However, glimpses of these emotions might be just enough to serve as a catalyst to help bring us out of our ennui and nudge us forward in search of new sources of joy. Such are the circumstances put to a trio of longing souls in the new heartwarming romantic comedy-drama, “The Ballad of Wallis Island.”

When Charles Heath (Tim Key), a wealthy, eccentric but lonely two-time lottery winner living by himself on a remote North Atlantic island, furtively finances a command performance of his favorite but now-disbanded folk rock duo – artistic and onetime-romantic partners Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden) and Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) – he hopes to relive fond memories of their once-popular musical style and recollections of the days he shared them with the love of his life. There’s just one hitch – Charles conceals more than a few important details about the true nature of his plan, revelations that end up taking the long-estranged musical duo somewhat by surprise.

Herb arrives first, having endured a challenging journey to Charles’s isolated island. This comes on top of the difficult time that Herb’s been experiencing for some time, most notably in his artistic endeavors. Since the breakup of the folk rock duo, he’s been experimenting with new musical styles, most of which have received only a tepid reaction at best. In fact, his primary reason for accepting Charles’s command performance invitation is to help him finance a new musical project, one that hasn’t been faring well during development.

Given what little he knows about the performance in advance, Herb expects to be putting on a show not unlike those staged at music festivals that were once popular at remote European locations back in the 1970s and ʼ80s. Needless to say, however, he’s stunned to learn that he’s the only act for an audience of one – Charles. When he finds out the truth, he’s ready to turn tails and leave. But then there’s the payout for the performance, money that he can’t afford to readily pass up if he wants his new project to go forward.

The surprises don’t end there, though. Herb soon learns that he actually won’t be performing by himself. Charles, it seems, has arranged for Nell to join him, a revelation that leaves Herb blindsided. The former artistic and romantic partners haven’t seen one another in years, and Herb has mixed feelings about this undisclosed and unanticipated reunion. That’s particularly true when Nell shows up with her adoring husband, Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen), in tow.

This leaves Herb with a lot to think about. Given how everything has come together, he’s unsure if he can proceed with the performance. However, Nell seems comfortable enough with the idea that she’s able to convince Herb to go ahead with it. They begin rehearsing their old songs, which revives some old pleasant memories. What’s more, when Michael, an avid birder, embarks on an extended excursion to a remote part of the island, Herb welcomes his absence, providing him with an opportunity to find out whether the old spark between him and Nell extends beyond their musical connection.

As their stay on the island unfolds, old memories are rekindled, prompting Herb and Nell to question the choices they’ve made and whether they want to take another shot at what they once had. In the process, Charles becomes something of an impromptu, unwitting matchmaker living vicariously through his guests’ experience, enveloped in a cloak of his own bittersweet nostalgia, both for their music and the feelings it invoked in him and his lost love. But, considering how the lives of all three characters have changed over time, can the past be brought back to life, especially now that Nell is married, Herb has moved on to new artistic pursuits and Charles swoons (albeit bashfully and somewhat guilt-ridden) for the owner of the island’s general store, Amanda (Sian Clifford)?

What lies ahead for Herb, Nell and Charles? Will the revived happy feelings persist, or will they wash out to sea like the changing tides? There’s much riding on the feelings in play here, and the direction they take could easily lead to either joy or heartache. How matters unfold rests squarely with what the three principals believe about themselves and their circumstances. And that’s important given the role that beliefs play in the manifestation of our existence, a product of the conscious creation process, the philosophy that makes such outcomes possible. It’s unclear whether Herb, Nell and Charles have heard of this school of thought, but, considering what’s at stake here, they’d be wise to wise up to what’s going on in light of how much they stand to gain – or lose.

Waxing nostalgic is something nearly all of us do from time to time, and it can make for a pleasant diversion, especially when times are tough or we feel the need to wrap ourselves up in a warm, comfortable emotional blanket. But making it a place where we’re tempted to take up permanent residence is something else entirely. Doing so can hinder – or even halt – our efforts at making forward progress, and that can ultimately prove stagnating and debilitating. Is that wise? When we think about it, most of us would probably say “no.” However, the lure of kinder, gentler, more fulfilling times can be quite strong, and we might actually fall prey to the belief that they can be the salvation to all our problems. But is that so? Might it be a trap filled with unfulfillable expectations fueled by overly unrealistic wishful thinking from which there’s no escape? That may especially be the case if we choose to heartily embrace those beliefs. The three principals in this story all appear vulnerable to the seductive draw of re-engaging with beliefs tied to events of the past and what potential consequences they could carry if adopted once again. Considering what’s on the line, this is belief territory into which they should all tread carefully.

For example, Charles, the orchestrator of this scenario, has created the circumstances that open up this line of probability for all three principals. He’s personally well off financially but lonely and can’t help but wonder what good all of that money will do if he has no one to share it with. Given that, he retreats into his pleasant memories of the past, savoring them and seeking to materialize the means of bringing some of it back, at least when it comes to reviving the fond recollections of the soundtrack of that time in his life. But is his belief that this will take away his anguish realistic? Or will it further ensnare him in the melancholy he’s obviously been experiencing for some time?

In creating this situation, Charles hooks both Herb and Nell as additional participants. And they, too, are experiencing somewhat related feelings and beliefs about their own circumstances. Herb, for example, may not have been fully aware of what Charles had in mind, but, once he discovers the truth, he can’t help but be sucked into it much the way his host has given himself over to it. Herb fondly remembers the time in his life when he and Nell were happy both artistically and romantically. He gave up a lot when they parted ways, and Nell’s presence is a painful reminder of that. And, as the story unfolds, Herb begins to believe that it’s a time of his life that he wishes he had back. Not only was Nell his love interest, but she was also his creative collaborator, one who helped him live up to his artistic potential (and the success that came with it), both of which seem to have eluded him ever since he went solo.

Nell is, by far, the most well adjusted of this trio. She has moved on in her life in the time since she and Herb split up. She has a new romantic partner in her life, and she’s found a new calling vocationally, having left the music business behind (despite her acceptance of Charles’s lucrative invitation to partake in his command performance). While it’s true that this experience has given her pause to reflect on her past and the choices she made, she looks upon this as an opportunity to engage in the aforementioned practice of waxing nostalgic. She might indeed enjoy this stroll down memory lane, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she wants to move back there, either.

In this regard, then, Nell would appear to have the “healthiest” outlook on the situation. She seems to wisely grasp the notion that reflection may be useful from time to time but that we must also be willing to move forward in our lives when circumstances warrant, that we must cast off conditions that no longer serve us, that our existence is an exercise of discovering that nothing lasts forever, with everything being in a constant state of becoming. That’s sound thinking (and believing), particularly when we consider the alternative: Would we truly want to live a life of utter stagnation, where nothing ever changes? Most of us would likely find such a reality tedious and unfulfilling. To be sure, we all probably require a certain sense of stability in our lives; however, at the same time, we also wouldn’t want to lead a life of ever-shifting change, the result of which being a form of chaos to which we likely couldn’t adapt.

In addition to living her own truth, Nell also serves as an example to the others. Charles and Herb may find that following her lead isn’t easy, given their respective mindsets. However, her presence provides them with a belief template that they can draw upon for themselves – that is, provided they’re willing to do so. In the end, it’s up to them to decide whether they want to remain stuck or to make the effort to begin anew. That might seem like a fairly simple, straightforward choice, even if it’s not the easiest to implement. But, given that they can choose to form beliefs in whatever form they want, the power always resides with them – just as it does for all of us.

Recapturing the past may be an enticing, seductive prospect, especially when it involves revisiting pleasant memories of days gone by. But is it realistically achievable or an improbable fantasy? Indeed, memories may prove to be heartwarming to relive, but can they be effectively and authentically brought back to life? Those are the questions posed on multiple levels in the second theatrical feature from director James Griffiths. Based on the 2007 film short “The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island,” this warm, touching, evenly paced alternative romcom sports a quirky vibe not unlike that found in the charming comedy classic “Local Hero” (1983) mixed with the romantic reunion storyline of “A Mighty Wind” (2003). These elements are effectively enhanced by the natural, unassuming performances of the three principals, the fine original songs composed for the film and gorgeous cinematography of the craggy, windswept Welsh island location. It’s truly rare these days to find a romantic comedy that provides viewers with elements that go beyond the prototypical heartstring-tugging emotions found in offerings like Hallmark Channel productions, but “The Ballad of Wallis Island” serves up more, giving audiences a lot to ponder beyond whether the often-predictable outcomes of such conventional releases will inevitably materialize. This is a great, if not entirely standard, date movie, one that’s sure to leave viewers with their own share of fond memories, even if they aren’t necessarily the kind one might expect. The film is available for streaming online.

Love can be a funny thing. Even when we think it’s over, that may be far from the case. The old feelings can persist long after we think all is said and done. But are they? Situations like this are often revealed in unwitting reunions that occur long after the fact, leaving us with the conundrum of what to do next. Scenarios like this can nevertheless be useful by serving as benchmarks to see how much (or how little) we may have learned and grown in the interim. They can shed light on the beliefs we may have held at one time and provide us with a valuable opportunity to determine if we’d like to reconnect with them or to spotlight the ways in which we have evolved over time. But what’s most important in these situations is determining what we do next. Indeed, experiencing “a Wallis Island moment” can provide significant guidance about us, our lives and the directions we’d like to see them take. Just remember, though, that islands are places to visit, not to remain marooned.

Copyright © 2025, by Brent Marchant. All rights reserved.