This week, movie lovers get treated to two distinctly British films, both set in the far west of Britain but with very different moods.
One is a comedy filled with laughs and warmth, while the other leans into a more serious and heartfelt drama.
The Ballad of Wallis Island Brings Humor and Heart to a Remote Welsh Setting
First up is The Ballad of Wallis Island, a film written by and starring Tim Key and Tom Basden.
It tells the story of Charles, played by Key, a wealthy but lonely man who lives in an expansive house on a remote island off the Pembrokeshire coast.
Charles’s only regular interaction is at the local shop run by Amanda, a single mother played by Sian Clifford.
Charles’s loneliness has him reaching out in unusual ways.
He hires a moderately well-known singer-songwriter, Herb McGwyer (Basden), to come perform a private concert on the island.
Charles claims he and Herb crossed paths once before during a show at the Colchester Corn Exchange when Herb was part of a folk-rock duo called McGwyer Mortimer with Nell Mortimer, played by Carey Mulligan.
What Herb doesn’t know is that Charles has also invited Nell, offering an eye-watering £800,000 for the pair to reunite for one night only.
But things are complicated: Nell arrives with her husband Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen), and there’s a lot of unresolved tension between her and Herb, who hasn’t seen her in nine years and didn’t know she’d remarried.
Quirky Characters and British Charm Make the Film a Delight
The story kicks off as Herb arrives by boat, greeted enthusiastically (and a bit awkwardly) by Charles, whose quirky personality and nervous wordplay make him feel like a distant cousin of characters like Alan Partridge or David Brent, but much more endearing and vulnerable.
Herb describes Charles to his agent as “sweet” but also admits that Charles is a bit overwhelming, “man-marking” him everywhere he goes.
Charles’s wealth comes from a surprising source—he’s a two-time lottery jackpot winner who spent his first fortune traveling the world with his late love Marie, who still holds a significant place in his life.
Directed beautifully by James Griffiths, the film offers stunning shots of the Pembrokeshire coastline that might just make viewers want to book a trip.
It’s an expansion of a 2007 BAFTA-nominated short called The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island, featuring the same creative team.
Though the character of Michael feels a little sidelined in the story, it doesn’t detract from the main focus—Herb and Nell’s emotional reunion and the grudges they carry.
Mulligan is as impeccable as ever, Basden shines with his writing and acting, but it’s Tim Key’s performance that really stands out as a masterclass in subtle emotion and humor.
Universal Themes Wrapped in Quintessentially British Humor
Despite being packed with references only a true Brit might catch—like Monster Munch, Alton Towers, and Ken Dodd—the film has already found some love overseas after its Sundance debut.
That’s probably because its themes—love, loneliness, friendship, and the complicated role money plays in all of them—resonate far beyond the British Isles.
The Salt Path Tells a Tougher Tale of Hardship and Resilience
On a much more serious note is The Salt Path, based on Raynor Winn’s best-selling memoir.
It tells the story of Raynor (Gillian Anderson) and her husband Moth (Jason Isaacs), who are suddenly homeless after losing their family home.
To make matters worse, Moth is diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease.
Despite everything, the couple decide to embark on an ambitious journey—walking the South West Coast Path, which stretches through Somerset, Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall, carrying only a tent and each other.
Beautiful Scenery and Strong Performances Can’t Fully Lift the Heavy Story
The film covers the highs and lows of their trek and paints a vivid picture of both the kindness and the indifference they encounter along the way.
The coastal landscapes are stunning, and both Isaacs and Anderson deliver strong performances, though their polished appearance might challenge the realism of a couple facing such dire straits.
Directed by Marianne Elliott, who is better known for her theatre work, the film sometimes feels slow and drawn out, losing some of the urgency and tension the story deserves.
The journey becomes a bit of a slog not just for the characters but for the audience as well.
A Tale of Two Films Showcasing Different Sides of British Life and Storytelling
Between the laugh-out-loud Ballad of Wallis Island and the somber, reflective Salt Path, this week’s British cinema offerings give audiences a chance to see very different but equally heartfelt stories set against some of Britain’s most beautiful western landscapes.
Whether you want a warm, quirky comedy or a tough but inspiring true-life drama, these two films have got you covered.