Jim Broadbent warms your soul in a beautiful and heartfelt portrayal of a kind man’s reckoning with tragic loss. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry addresses the profound journey of life through a hopeful and honest lens. The shame and regret of past failures shackle a deeply wounded protagonist to a miserable existence. He sets himself free by daring to be bold and selfless after a cry for help from a long-lost friend. Thus setting in motion a chain of events that changes the fortunes of everyone he encounters along the way for the better. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry treads melodramatic but is wonderfully uplifting and thoughtful.
Harold Fry Walks 500 Miles to Say Goodbye
Harold Fry (Broadbent), a retired brewery worker, peeks out of his modest home’s living room window in Kingsbridge, England. His wife, Maureen (Penelope Wilton), brings in the mail while doing her daily cleaning. Harold is stunned to receive a letter from Queenie Hennessey (Linda Bassett), a former colleague he hadn’t heard from in decades. His surprise turns to sorrow after reading that Queenie is near death from cancer at a hospice center. She’s writing to say goodbye.
A troubled Harold struggles to write his dear condolences. He asks Maureen for help composing something more earnest, but she coldly dismisses him. What does she know about a woman he used to carpool? Harold gets dressed and ventures outside, deciding to take his response directly to the post office.
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A fateful interaction with a young cashier at the local gas station gives Harold a crazy idea. He calls the hospice. Harold will walk to Berwick-upon-Tweed in the north of England to visit Queenie in person. Sister Philomena (Joy Richardson) can’t believe her ears. That’s easily 500 miles away from his location. Queenie is barely clinging to life. She won’t survive much longer. Harold tells the nurse to pass on his sincere message. Keep fighting Queenie. Harold Fry is on his way.
Exploring the Landscape of Memories & England
Screenwriter Rachel Joyce adapts her critically acclaimed 2012 novel with deft aplomb. At first glance, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry seems taken from one of Forrest Gump’s most memorable scenes. Where Tom Hanks takes off running to leave his past behind. He traverses the country multiple times, inspiring others, and building a legion of followers along the way. Harold’s walk north has similar narrative beats but isn’t just a poetic montage. We discover in continuing flashbacks why Harold has to see Queenie. She was a key figure during his darkest moments.
Harold remembers his son David (Earl Cave) when the walk commences. Director Hettie Macdonald, known for her film Beautiful Thing and considerable British television (Dr. Who) and theater credits, uses distinct visual cues to frame the past. Harold’s memories are shot with handheld cameras, a tight center focus, and a glaring spotlight that almost washes out skin tones. There are palpable feelings of dread, confusion, and alarm. A young Harold and Maureen have no idea what to do as David’s behavior spirals dangerously out of control.
Macdonald then films the lush English countryside, busy highways, and small towns with a wide open perspective. Harold senses liberation while coming to terms with his perceived failure as a father.
Penelope Wilton Is Fantastic as a Resentful Wife
Macdonald makes a point of Harold having fewer possessions the farther he progresses. It’s a physical acknowledgment of Harold unburdening himself from material tethers. This becomes a source of great consternation to Maureen, who thinks that Harold has abandoned her. How can he survive without a phone, watch, or even his wallet? Sleeping in the woods, eating handout food, and relying on strangers for kindness, Maureen cannot fathom how he gets along without her and barely anything else.
Wilton is sublime as a woman coming to terms with sobering truths. Maureen’s initial anger, frustration, and resentment towards Harold forces uncomfortable introspection. Maureen took Harold for granted and blamed him for what happened to their son. Her bitterness cooled over time to where Harold became an inconsequential afterthought. She always assumed he would be there. The sweet and considerate Harold had been a rock by her side. His absence hits her like a freight train. Maureen never fell out of love with Harold. Does she have the ability to let him go and hope he returns home?
Beyond the Sentimental Cheese There Is Hope and Beauty
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry falters somewhat in its second act as Harold becomes an unwitting celebrity. The Forrest Gump similarities abound, with silly “pilgrim” t-shirts and cult-like followers in tow being contrived and predictable. Thankfully, Joyce and Macdonald steer the plot back to its genuine themes. Tears will be shed as we learn what really happened to David, Maureen’s response, and Queenie’s place in a sad equation.
Harold learns the last mile is the hardest when reaching a difficult goal. A few notes to the skeptics who ask why Harold didn’t just Uber the trip, get there in a day, and say his goodbye. He believes, and correctly so, that Queenie will hold out to see him. She needed a reason to live and not just give up. Never underestimate the power of hope.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a production of Ingenious Media and Embankment Films. It is currently in limited theatrical release and available on demand from Quiver Distribution. You can watch it on platforms like YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and on Prime Video through the link below:
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