THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY

Review: Harold is a retired ordinary man who passes through life, living on the side lines, until the day he goes to mail a letter one day and just keeps walking across the country.
Director: Hettie Macdonald
Actors: Jim Broadbent, Penelope Wilton, Earl Cave, Linda Bassett, Daniel Frogson, Naomi Wirthner, Paul Thornley, Joy Richardson, Claire Rushbrook, Ian Porter, Marvin Brown, Bethan Cullinane and Monika Gossmann
Year: 2023
Genre: Drama
Conclusion: 3/5
Adapted from a novel by Rachel Joyce although I have to confess that I have not read the novel myself. Rachel Joyce also wrote the screenplay so the film is very close to the book. This did remind me of The Last Bus (2021). I thoroughly enjoyed the songs by Sam Lee. I have not come across him before but now will be hunting his songs down. I also enjoyed the musical score. I also thought that the cinematography was great. I have to say that I enjoyed Jim Broadbent’s performance and it is always lovely to see him although I did think that Penelope Wilton has the much harder job. I felt she didn’t really have much material to work with but she did a fantastic job. Apparently, Jim Broadbent also narrated the audiobook of the story. I never once got bored or fed up at any point. Penelope Wilton was on the Kermode and Mayo show and suggested that this film is about the kindness of strangers and the healing power of trusting in other people. Although the story seems quite simple, the themes that it deals with are very deep and complex. Harold Fry’s shoes annoyed me and I wanted him to be in proper hiking boots!!