“The Ballad of Wallis Island” (2025) was in the making for over a decade. In 2007, the British short film “The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island,” directed by James Griffiths, and written by Tim Key and Tom Basden (who also played the two leading roles) had a famous folk singer play a private concert in a remote island for an eccentric lottery winner. Now, in 2025, the writer-director trio has developed a feature film based on the same short film with a shorter title.
The movie can be best described through an event that epitomizes the fictional ‘Wallis Island.’ When Herb McGwyer visits the only grocery store on the island for a bag of rice, to rectify the water damage on his phone, he does not get that. Instead, he leaves the store with a rice pudding. Like the titular island, Tim Key and Tom Basden’s screenplay circumvents instant gratification while diverting expectations in an eclectically rewarding experience. Full of poignant warmth, “The Ballad of Wallis Island” is a melancholic tune that one cannot help but hum during and after the credits roll.
The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
With a plot that could have turned sinister to become a superb horror movie, “The Ballad of Wallis Island” warmly embraces its eccentricity. Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden), a noted folk musician, is received by Charles (Tim Key) as he arrives at Wallis Island. The eccentricity begins from the get-go, as there is no harbor to board down from the boat. So, Herb has to drop himself into the crashing waves near the shore. Without the practice of a disembarkment as such, Herb falls into the water, drenching himself and getting his phone wet.
Charles tries to make the best of the situation as he mollifies Herb. It appears Herb has been offered a cool half a million to come to the island and play a private set. Although Charles initially mentioned a crowd of ‘less than a hundred,’ it soon becomes clear that the only audience member is going to be Charles. Charles tells Herb that he and his late wife, Marie, won the lottery. Twice. So, after completing their dream of globetrotting, they settled on this island, still with enough money to hire celebrity musicians.
Now, this is the time where a bit of history of Herb McGwyer’s musical career is needed. Herb grew popular as one half of the famous folk duo “McGwyer-Mortimer.” Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) was Herb’s partner cum romantic interest, before Herb decided to go solo. McGwyer and Mortimer broke off, and Herb has not been in touch with her ever since. That is, until he finds out that Charles has intended his island private gig to become the reunion of McGwyer and Mortimer.
When Nell arrives at the island with her husband, Michael, Herb is flustered. But the former partners battle past that initial awkwardness. However, old tensions soon flare up with Herb being insecure about his current ‘commercial’ career and Nell learning that Herb has charged significantly more from Charles than her. Herb tries to leave, but Michael requests him to stay as the couple can do with the three hundred grand Charles will pay Nell for the concert. If Herb leaves, the concert goes away too. Once again, Herb stays reluctantly.
The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025) Movie Ending Explained:
Why Did Nell Leave?
Charles is ecstatic to find Herb coming back. With Herb and Nell relaxing a bit, Charles’s contagious good mood spreads through everyone. Herb and Nell jam as McGwyer and Mortimer used to. He plays a game of tennis with Charles, and even suggests that Charles should invite the grocery store lady, Amanda (a fine Sian Clifford), to the concert. Herb insists Charles should ask Amanda out. Later, Charles takes both Herb and Nell to the beach to enjoy the sunset. All three of them write a personal message on sky lanterns and release them.
Also Read: The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025) Movie Review
With him being in a better mood than he has ever been since coming to Wallis Island, and with Michael being away on a birdwatching tour, Herb confesses that he has never stopped loving Nell. Nell realizes Herb is regretting their romantic breakup, and not the end of their musical partnership, reveals that she is pregnant and quite happy with Michael. She decides to leave immediately. Charles understands that and lets her leave. He suggests that Nell should still be involved in music.
Why Did Herb Not Take the Money?
Nell’s departure throws Herb off his good mood once again. He blames Charles for bringing her back into his life. He not only decides to leave with all his stuff, but he also takes his old guitar that Charles purchased through an auction. Charles, as usual, allows the robbery as well. While awaiting the next boat in heavy rain, Charles goes inside Amanda’s grocery store. Amanda, who previously told him and Charles that she had not listened to any song of McGwyer-Mortimer, reveals that she has finally listened to one upon the insistence of Charles.
Herb comes back to Charles’ house just to stay the night. He encounters Michael, who reveals that Charles has given them the three hundred grand anyway, despite Nell leaving and not completing the gig. Later, while on the beach, Herb notices one of the lanterns deflated and floating in the sea. He jumps to fetch it, thinking it might be Nell’s. Charles watches him and thinks he is trying to kill himself. Charles jumps into the sea trying to save Herb. But he starts to get drowned himself. Eventually, Herb saves him. Herb also notices the lantern’s message. It’s a heartfelt ode to Marie from Charles.
Herb realizes that Charles planned the entire concert as an ode to Marie, on her fifth death anniversary. After this, Herb decides to go play the concert. He even arranges for Amanda to come and surprise Charles. With Amanda and Charles in the audience, Herb croons one hit after another, on a melancholic afternoon, by the beach. The next day, Herb finally leaves with the case of half a million in cash. However, as Charles comes back to his house, he finds all the money arranged on the table, with the guitar that Herb took from him in a fit of rage. Herb has not taken the money Charles gave him for the concert.
It is understandable why. After learning where Charles’ eccentric demand for the gig comes from, Herb just wants to be part of it. It is overwhelming to see that something he created (along with Mortimer) is becoming a magical bond between two human beings. A bond that even death cannot break. That is priceless. No amount of money can match that feeling. Besides, the experience in Wallis Island and the pleasure of Charles’s doggedly charming company have helped Herb to find his true musical self once again. That is why he thanks Charles. That is why he signs his note with his real name, “Chris Pinner.”
The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025) Movie Themes Analyzed:
Loneliness and the Art of Letting Go
At the outset, Charles and Herb might look like two distinctly different people. And why not? Charles’ almost hermit-like eccentric optimism can be countered with Herb’s world-weary celebrity jadedness. However, as the film progresses, we see how the two men are similar. They are both lonely men stuck in the past. Sure, Charles’s attachment to the late Marie is a testament to love eternal. However, is he happy? Time and again, we see the sweetly charming man breaking into small emotional outbursts. He hides them well from the outsiders. But they are there.
Similarly, Herb has not been able to detach himself from his past relationship with Mortimer. He goes in the opposite direction from Charles. He completely cuts Nell off from his life. Instead, he focuses on a different life, with a different brand of music. But the effect is still the same. He still longs for the past, just like Charles. It is a poetic ending by Key and Basden that these two men, pining over their respective pasts, help each other for a better future.
Less is More Lifestyle
Although the heart of “The Ballad of Wallis Island” is the dynamic between Herb and Charles, there is an undercurrent of a yearning for a simpler life. A life where less is more. For instance, going to the grocery store to not find the desired bag of rice or the pudding cup, and instead, coming back with a rice pudding and pudding in a coffee cup. Amanda’s grocery store is a metaphor for not getting what we want instantly. However, it is also an example of letting life surprise you only if you are a bit patient. There is a steadfast commitment from “Wallis Island” to evade instant gratification. You do not get what you want in the grocery store instantly. You cannot travel whenever you want. But you can lose yourself in the pristine landscapes and yet find your true self. Just like Herb did.
Loneliness in Men. Compassion. Both are stuck, one in grief and one in frustration, both past.
