The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

On receiving a letter from an old friend who is dying, Harold Fry (Jim Broadbent) writes back but on the way to post the letter decides to visit Queenie (Linda Bassett) at her hospice, on foot, 450 miles away. With no preparation, no proper kit and virtually no idea other than sheer determination, Harold sets off much to the fear and frustration of his wife Maureen (Penelope Wilton).

Along the way he learns about people, national exposure gets him is own entourage and slowly Harold comes to terms with the inner turmoil that is both tormenting and driving him, that of his son David (Earl Cave) and Queenie. All the time walking and thinking through the beauties of the English countryside.

I’ve not read the novel by Rachel Joyce (who adapted it for the screen) the film is based upon. The film however is a frustrating experience of a sincere man who sets out to do a good thing at the same time redeem himself, though there is little doubt that the former is the main driver here, once the story starts to unfold.

And it is genuinely heart-breaking and uplifting but from a personal perspective I found it very difficult to empathise with any of the main characters, or actually like them very much. There was a detachment from the characters that however good the performances were (and they are uniformly excellent as the viewer would expect from these actors) that couldn’t be spanned.

Directed by Hettie MacDonald, the film isn’t the smoothest; spotted with distractions and vignettes, such as Harold’s ‘Brian’ sequence when he becomes a figure of hope for some people after a mention on the news. That though is quite an interesting section which could be seen as a swipe at certain sections of society that are quick to exploit, consciously or not, good causes or even co-opt them, with little regard for the subject or people involved.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is out now in UK cinemas.