There’s a new ‘Proclaimer’ in town – and his name is Harold Fry.
There are always jokes that surround anything associated with five hundred miles, but in the comedy-drama THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY, it becomes the odyssey of an even unlikelier hero.
Harold Fry (Jim Broadbent) is in his sixties and heading for twi-lighter years in what appears to be a loveless marriage to Maureen (Penelope Wilton). It seems a pretty straightforward, if a little dull at times (perhaps even more so). However, when a letter from a past acquaintance by the name of Queenie comes through the door, Harold learns that she is in a rest home up North in Berwick-Upon-Tweed and becomes even more determined to try and salvage what is left of her life.
After heading to the post office, a young lady at a local shop inspires him to up sticks for a while and make the trip on foot – and nothing else – to make his way to try and save Queenie. Maureen thinks he’s a little naive and stupid when he calls from the road en route and like Forrest Gump, appreciates that stupid is etc.
However, when a photo taken by a casual bystander on the road emerges on social media, Harold’s journey becomes an even bigger story than ever….
Directed by Hettie Macdonald and adapted by Rachel Joyce from her own novel, THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY emerges as a very charming film that at first glance seems to be going in the direction of a typical British offering with the staple talent of a Working Title affair and probably looks like petering out at the end of the first third. However, once Harold settles into his country-wide pilgrimage, home truths in a rural context come up for air amid a surprising backstory and revelation (which might be more so if you haven’t read the source material, of which I am proudly naive enough to say I am one of them!)
It is of course the terrific talents of Broadbent and Wilton who endure as much as ever in a film that will encapsulate everything great about finding your mojo at an advanced age. However, THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY has such a crossover appeal to all ages and like CITY SLICKERS will inspire you to try something off the cuff – and on the road.
THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY is in cinemas from April 28th, 2023.
