Movie Review - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

 

So before we go into this film, its not based on any true events. Rather, a novel that was written in such a way to be like a radio play and then ultimately became a full blown novel. This kind of meant that the time period where it's set, didn't matter too much. Its like with the Harry Potter series being set in the 90s, but the films make it more like its set in the late 90s and early 00s which made sense with the release schedule those films had. So the novel got adapted into this film and stars the British man who has been in nearly everything, Jim Broadbent and the British lady who is lovely on the outside but has an interesting personality, Penelope Wilton. Never read the novel, but lots of people know about it. So let's take a look:

Our titular character Harold Fry (played by Broadbent who also narrated the audiobook) is a retired pensioner living in Kingsbridge with his wife Maureen (played by Wilton). Due to events that have transpired, their marriage has become despondent and quiet. One day, Harold receives a letter from an old friend called Queenie (played by Linda Bassett) who is dying from cancer and living in a hospice in the north of the UK. After being inspired by a story told to him by a garage girl (played by Nina Singh) about her aunt, he is determined to not let Queenie die and sets off on a long walk to the hospice to see her. Meeting a lot of different characters along the way and coming to terms with things that have transpired in his past that has led him to this moment.

As small British films go, this one I find is sweet, moving and a little bit of a tearjerker. Everyone acts out their parts well, lots of great memorable and interesting characters and some very mature themes too, that makes the age rating this film got (a 12 in the UK), the right choice. One of Broadbent's stand-out performances and just a lovely and peaceful film to watch (well, peaceful for a majority of it). 8/10