THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND follows Charles (Tim Key), an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island and dreams of getting his favorite musicians, Mortimer-McGwyer (Carey Mulligan and Tom Basden) back together. His fantasy quickly turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig. There is no more picturesque location to set a charming British comedy than this fictional remote Welsh island. It’s a romantic locale that sets the scene for the remarkable chemistry that longtime comedy partners Tom Basden and Tim Key, who write and star here, have developed with each other. To perfect their winning formula this time around, they’ve invited a dream duo of actresses Carey Mulligan and Sian Clifford to come play in their sandbox, creating a tale so humorous and lovely that you’ll be humming its songs long after the credits roll.
“Alive with plenty of droll British humor and with a music-filled, picturesque finale that is sincerely earned, THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND is the best kind of crowd-pleaser: disarming, joyful and full of compassion for its oddball characters. This Sundance charmer doesn’t hit a false note.” —Tomris Laffly, Variety “Inspires an ear-to-ear grin from its opening moments.” —Marshall Shaffer, The Playlist “This is the sort of hilarious heart-warmer that only comes around once or twice a year to offer a blessed break from darkness, snobbery and streaming schlock. It’s so easy to love, even if love doesn’t come easy for its characters.” —Johnny Oleksinski, New York Post