There is a very niche but widely embraced sub-genre of cinema, which usually centres on older British characters going about their daily routine, until they are confronted with a challenge that forces them to acclimate to whatever changes are necessary, usually leading to hilarity and soulful introspection. It is a heartwarming style of storytelling, and one that has been adored for decades, especially since these are incredibly easy films to watch, and they often have a deeper message that makes them so much more profound. One of the more recent offerings in this regard is The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, in which director Hettie McDonald returns to feature filmmaking for the first time in over a quarter of a century (having spent years working in television) to adapt the novel by Rachel Joyce, who was actively involved in bringing her own story to the screen by way of writing the screenplay. A charming and very touching drama with brief flourishes of earnest humour and a lot of genuine pathos, the film is a moving story of a man undergoing a cross-country journey by foot after learning that an old friend is currently spending her final days under hospice care, which impels him to make the trip in the hopes of healing her through the sheer motivation of walking the entirety of England, a seemingly impossible task, but one he is nonetheless committed to honouring, hoping that his faith and willingness can show his dear friend his appreciation after a particularly valiant favour she did for him years previously. A solid, compelling and often quite charming drama with an abundance of heart and soul, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a truly meaningful examination of human nature, as filtered through a story that may be quite conventional, and made by a director not known for broad visual or thematic flourishes, but which is still captivating, being a detailed view of common issues that are rendered absolutely beautiful by a film that honours and celebrates the ordinary people who make sacrifices, often without any sense of recognition.

Much like the several similarly-themed films that we see released every year, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry follows a very strict formula, from which the director is not particularly keen on deviating. It also should be noted that having the author of the novel serving as the screenwriter unfortunately precludes the film from taking a solid text and changing it creatively, since Joyce herself was guiding the production in terms of what she intended to bring from the novel, meaning much of the responsibility for what we see is in her hands. However, not every film has to be subversive and experimental, and some of the better entries into this genre tend to be quite predictable, but in a way that is not frustrating, but rather comforting. Arguably slightly more serious than the films to which it is often compared (and while it has a decent amount of humour, it is not particularly funny, despite the marketing making it look like a charming and upbeat comedy, in the vein of Calendar Girls or The Full Monty), and far more sobering in terms of the message being conveyed, the film is still an actively engaging triumph, a thoughtful meditation on certain ideas, delivered in as easygoing and innocuous a form as it could, which is part-and-parcel of the genre, which rarely (if ever) takes any bold leaps, whether stylistically or narratively. This is one of those genres in which they can successfully avoid being original by amplifying the sense of comfort and emotional resonance that defines this film and makes it so compelling, even if it is telling a story we’ve seen countless times before – we’ve all encountered stories that focus around the concept of an unexpected hero placing himself in a position where the only qualities keeping him from peril are his endless sense of determination and the pure luck that comes with tenacity. The major difference in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is that this is all founded on a set of strong principles, which add an element of both intellectual pondering and moral determination, which is more than enough to propel such a simple story.

In the process of making these lightweight, meaningful films centred on the older generation, it seems like the industry has a small set of familiar actors through which they recycle, placing any random assortment of them together, knowing that the results will undoubtedly be worth our time, not because the stories are always strong, but because these actors frequently deliver outstanding work. Whether making a comedy or drama (or something in between, as is the case with this film), Jim Broadbent is undeniably one of our most consistently brilliant actors – he is someone who can play any kind of role, bringing a sense of everyman charm to even his most restrictive characters, and handling every emotion with honesty and the kind of tenderness that very few actors seem to be willing to demonstrate. He is given one of his best roles in the form of the titular character in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, which finds Broadbent doing impeccable work – his ability to seamlessly transition between softhearted humour and sincere pathos is remarkable, and he brings so much nuance to the film, which benefits immensely from his presence, with the same being said for Dame Penelope Wilton, who is heartbreaking and funny in equal measure, being the soul of the film and the voice of reason that has a truly beautiful arc that becomes clear towards the very end. It’s likely that any actor of a certain age could have feasibly played these roles and done reasonably well, so neither of these performances are necessarily bespoke – but in an industry where youthfulness is a precious commodity, any film that gives older actors the spotlight to prove their mettle (not that either Broadbent or Wilton required it) is immediately going to be worth our time, which is exactly the case with The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, a film that adores its actors and gives them so much to do, even in the more predictable moments scattered throughout.

Beneath all the traditional storytelling, there is an undercurrent of honesty that defines The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and makes it so poetic and meaningful, even in ways that many may not necessarily expect. This is a film that focuses on some very simple themes, but explores them with a combination of humour and heart, which elevates the material far beyond the confines of a conventional drama, and instead takes it to a more unique place, at least for the most part. It doesn’t take too long to realize what Joyce intended to say with this story – perhaps the plausibility of a geriatric walking the length of England is not particularly important (we are led to believe such a journey was possible and essentially quite easy, which is probably due to the film needing to make a few major elisions to justify a shorter running time, since it could not have feasibly followed his entire journey), but it does at least offer us something in terms of a thematic foundation, from which many of the other ideas eventually flourish. Family in particular is a very important subject – whether it is your relationship with a life partner, or your experiences raising a child (which is shown to not be as easy as it may seem, especially when it results in a tragedy), or the chosen family one acquires along the way, the film pays tribute to these bonds, developing the ideas to feel fresh and honest, while still being extremely reliable, which is remarkably important in setting a theoretical foundation for this film. Hope is another vitally important theme, as is faith, the two working in tandem as the philosophical components of the film. Both are intangible concepts, and often quite contentious, especially when they are hastily used as justification for poor narratives. In The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, this is not the case – these themes propel the film but don’t define it in the sense that the audience is never persuaded to believe the pure power of prayer or positive thinking has healing properties, at least not in the traditional sense. Instead, they have more positive qualities in terms of how they help us view the world around us, and the manner in which we face certain challenges, which can be made far easier with a more positive mindset. The film weaves these ideas together so beautifully, which gives The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry a solid basis to tell a moving and impactful story.

As much as we may search for some semblance of originality, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is ultimately a film that follows a very strict formula, never deviating except in a few incidental moments where it is given the chance to take some slight narrative risks – but this is hardly something that warrants much concern, since this was never intended to be some overly complex, groundbreaking examination of the human condition that pushes boundaries and shatters preconceived notions of what reality is meant to portray. Instead, it is a reliable, earnest drama anchored by two terrific performers, who deliver incredible work that ranks amongst their very best, portraying the plight of an older married couple that only starts to work through their past trauma while on the precipice of another loss. It is a film that does require the viewer to follow the journey closely, since there are so details that enrichen the narrative and make it more profound, but there is a sense of simplicity that makes the film so incredibly delightful, especially in the more intimate moments, which is where the more compelling content resides. McDonald is a very reliable director, but not one with a distinct voice, so much of the authorial power went to Joyce, who puts together a lovely adaptation, extracting the most impactful moments and placing them together in a way that honours her original work, while still having a sense of cinematic integrity, the likes of which are often quite difficult to find in as pure a form as we see here. Insightful, meaningful and often quite funny in ways that lessen the harsh emotional blows, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a charming and endearing film, and one of the better entries into this new wave of simple but effective dramas that show a different side of life, but all ultimately have the same message of hope and finding the joy in the smallest moments.