The Ballad of Wallis Island - An Offbeat Folk Comedy
Written by Dr. Zoe Crombie
Far from platforms like social media and TV panel shows, comedic films have an uphill battle when it comes to making timely jokes and observations. Inherently taking a far longer time to reach our screens, comedies that may have felt fresh when they were conceived often come out the other end feeling dated or out of touch; you only need to take a look at films like Epic Movie to see this in action. On the other hand, you can avoid this issue completely – as most great comedies do – by having an original idea and focusing on execution over trends.
Written by and starring comedians Tim Key and Tom Basden, with Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan rounding out the case, The Ballad of Wallis Island is a quirky folk tinged romcom. Following a reclusive super fan of a semi-famous folk duo who invites the pair to his lottery funded remote island, the endearingly awkward interactions between the three making up the heart of the film. It’s all enhanced by the duo’s music - written and performed by Basden - which, instead of making a mockery of the genre for comedic effect, is genuinely heartfelt and affecting.
Developed from a short film made by Basden and Key alongside director James Griffiths over 15 years ago, the unique premise and gentle spirit of The Ballad of Wallis Island could fit comfortably into any era.
You can see The Ballad of Wallis Island from Friday 13th to Thursday 19th June.
