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James Griffiths (Britain, ?) debuted with the comedy
Cuban Fury (2014) but then devoted his career to television.
A decade later he directed
The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025),
a sort of fairy tale written by Tim Key and Tom Basden that is slowly revealed
to be a moving love story.
Charles lives alone in a giant mansion of a sparsely inhabited island.
He listens to the records of folk musician Herb McGwyer.
One day the star himself, Herb, arrives by boat at the island, hired by Charles for a private performance.
The boat stops far from the beach. Charles walks into the water to come and
welcome Herb. Herb has to walk in the water, getting all wet. His phone gets
wet.
There are no hotels: Charles' mansion is the hotel where Charles is going to
stay.
Herb is a bit upset by the arrangement. Charles shows him the pay: a briefcase
full of cash. Charles is instead excited. Herb is his idol.
Charles slowly reveals that there will be only one person at the show: himself.
Herb cannot believe it. Charles slowly reveals that is a widower and that both
he and his wife Marie loved Herb's collaborations with a female singer, Nell.
And Charles reveals that he won the lottery twice: that's where the money goes.
Charles reveals only at the last minute that he has also hired Nell, and we
understand that Herb and Nell were once lovers. Herb is not amused by the
surprise. Nell arrives with her husband Michael, a bird watcher.
Herb and Nell initially argue about their career, especially when Nell finds out
that Charles is paying Herb almost double for their performance.
Herb decides to leave the island but Michael tells him bluntly that they need
the money and if Herb leaves Charles won't pay them.
Charles tells Nell that he scheduled the performance on the fifth anniversary of Marie's death.
Herb returns and starts rehearsing with Nell while Michael tours the island.
Charles shows them the venue: a place on the beach that doesn't even have seats.
Herb slowly discovers Charles' lonely life: he has played tennis alone
since Marie died, his only acquaintance on the island is the single mother who
runs the small shop,
Amanda, who candidly confesses that she never heard of Herb.
Finally, Herb relaxes and one day the trio watches sunset at the beach and
releases balloons on which they wrote secret wishes.
Herb confesses to Nell that he still loves her, but she reveals she is pregnant.
Nell leaves a lock of her hair for Charles and leaves the island.
Herb accuses Charles of having ruined his life by bringing back his past.
Herb tries to leave again but it's raining. Herb returns to the house and
is moved a little by realizing how important Herb and Nell where in Charles'
and Marie's life. Michael returns from his sightseeing and
Charles still gives Michael the money, lying that the performance took place and it was fantastic.
Charles sees Herb walking into the sea and thinks Charles is trying to kill himself. It ends up that Herb has to save Charles from drowning, not the other way around, and that Herb was simply trying to recover one of the balloons.
It turns out to be Charles' balloon and Herb can read that Charles arranged
the performance as a memorial for Marie. Charles tells Herb that he can leave
and will still be paid the full amount, but Herb is now moved by the love
story of Charles and Marie. Nell has encouraged the shy Charles to invite Amanda to the show and Herb delivers the message that Charles had prepared but never
delivered. When Amanda shows up, Charles understands that Herb has accepted
to perform and they rush to the beach, where Herb is already playing and singing alone. Herb performs for them until late evening.
The next morning Herb leaves but he has emptied the briefcase of all the money
and replaced the money with simple objects that Charles bought for him.
Herb also left Charles his guitar with an autograph.
We understand that a new love story is beginning between Charles and Amanda
that will end Charles' loneliness.
Herb makes a new record, titled "The Ballad of Wallis Island".
(Copyright © 2024 Piero Scaruffi | Terms of use )
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