The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Directed by Hettie MacDonald and adapted for screen by Rachel Joyce based on her own 2012 novel. Harold (Jim Broadbent) is retired and living in Devon with his wife Maureen (Penelope Wilton), when he receives a letter from an old work friend Queenie (Linda Bassett). In it she shares that she is in a hospice and is writing to say goodbye. Rather than write back, inspired by a chance conversation in a petrol station, Harold decided to walk the 500 plus miles to the Scottish borders to see her instead. What starts out as a lonely journey becomes a pilgrimage as he inspires others with his faith that the visit will give Queenie something to cling onto. But it also forces Harold to think about his own life with its own tragedies and how failing to deal with them has left sadness and hurt in its wake.

This is a film while formulaic and unsurprising has its heart in the right place. But even with its predictability and its unlikely premise it remains watchable and believable and that is mainly because of Jim Broadbents lovely subtle performance. His character never seeks attention and is bemused when he gets it. We feel his enthusiasm and confidence alongside his darkness and doubt. And when we get the, predictable, reveal Broadbent has built a character to care for and you feel his heartbreak as much as you feel his earlier foot ache.

Penelope Wilton offers solid support as his wife feeling abandoned and lost. A couple of small roles Daniel Frogson as Wilf and Monika Gossman as Marina in particular add some additional colour.

It does run a little long and towards the end pushes its faith message a little strongly. But this is not a religious film more one about humanity with its flaws and our need to put things right.

This isn’t a film that will change the world, but it is a well told story whose heart Is in the right place. Even if the story is a little unbelievable what makes it work is Jim Broadbent’s very believable central performance. While it’s a little long and predictable, it is still a watchable good hearted film.