Life is a journey and for that journey you better have hope or it's all hopeless.
"The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" is one of those movies the Brits do so well.
A simple, joyful story, wonderful actors, clever director, marvellous scenery and very little, if any, CGI.
Who better to play "Harold" than Jim Broadbent, giving another masterclass in acting from the heart.
"Harold" is an ordinary man who has passed through life, living on the side lines, seemingly doing nothing significant with his life, until he goes to post a letter one day...and just keeps walking on the flippant advice of a service station attendant.
Jim's supported by Penelope Wilton as his long suffering wife, "Maureen".
Her journey is made all the more difficult because she has to cope with it by herself.
Together they harbour a grief that has torn them asunder and threatens to derail their marriage.
Hettie MacDonald directs her players to perfection.
Watch out for: Nick Cave's son Earl as "David" in a pivotal role.
The movie uses a screenplay adapted by author Rachel Joyce from her own 2012 best seller.
Broadbent also narrated the audiobook version of this story...so he's very familiar with the material.
Throughout "Harold's" 500 mile walk I really wanted to hear the Proclaimers just once, but its not included in the soundtrack, however it is referenced in a sign held by one of Frys' Pilgrims.
"Pilgrims" are the people who attach themselves to "Harold" on the course of his 60 plus days hoofing it from one end of the UK to the other to support a friend who's terminally ill.
The "Pilgrims" are a social commentary on how lost people need something to believe in no matter how banal.
"The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" felt like what if we knew what actually happened to "Forest Gump" on his pilgrimage across the US and it wasn't just a film montage.
This low budget, slow paced drama will have you reaching for your Kleenex tissues and cheering on this ordinary man achieving extraordinary things and renewing your faith in humanity along his journey.
England itself becomes a character.
Nature plays an incredibly strong part in "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" as does the landscape and the people he meets.
You'll want to feel you're with Harold on this journey.
It's a very filmic road movie.
"The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" is one of those movies the Brits do so well.
A simple, joyful story, wonderful actors, clever director, marvellous scenery and very little, if any, CGI.
Who better to play "Harold" than Jim Broadbent, giving another masterclass in acting from the heart.
"Harold" is an ordinary man who has passed through life, living on the side lines, seemingly doing nothing significant with his life, until he goes to post a letter one day...and just keeps walking on the flippant advice of a service station attendant.
Jim's supported by Penelope Wilton as his long suffering wife, "Maureen".
Her journey is made all the more difficult because she has to cope with it by herself.
Together they harbour a grief that has torn them asunder and threatens to derail their marriage.
Hettie MacDonald directs her players to perfection.
Watch out for: Nick Cave's son Earl as "David" in a pivotal role.
The movie uses a screenplay adapted by author Rachel Joyce from her own 2012 best seller.
Broadbent also narrated the audiobook version of this story...so he's very familiar with the material.
Throughout "Harold's" 500 mile walk I really wanted to hear the Proclaimers just once, but its not included in the soundtrack, however it is referenced in a sign held by one of Frys' Pilgrims.
"Pilgrims" are the people who attach themselves to "Harold" on the course of his 60 plus days hoofing it from one end of the UK to the other to support a friend who's terminally ill.
The "Pilgrims" are a social commentary on how lost people need something to believe in no matter how banal.
"The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" felt like what if we knew what actually happened to "Forest Gump" on his pilgrimage across the US and it wasn't just a film montage.
This low budget, slow paced drama will have you reaching for your Kleenex tissues and cheering on this ordinary man achieving extraordinary things and renewing your faith in humanity along his journey.
England itself becomes a character.
Nature plays an incredibly strong part in "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" as does the landscape and the people he meets.
You'll want to feel you're with Harold on this journey.
It's a very filmic road movie.