THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY

UK, 2023, 108 minutes, Colour.

Jim Broadbent, Penelope Wilton, Earl Cave, Linda Bassett, Daniel Frogson, Paul Thornley, Joy Richardson, Claire Ashbrook, Ian Porter, Monika Gossmann, Nina Singh.

Directed by Hattie Macdonald.

This is a screen adaptation by actress-writer, Rachel Joyce, of her very popular novel.

This is the story of Harold Fry, in his 70s, played by the great stalwart of British drama (170 film and television credits), Jim Broadbent. He makes Harold Fry completely credible, makes his strange pilgrimage very credible. He is supported by another veteran of English stage and screen, Penelope Wilton, as Maureen Fry.

This is a film about secular faith and miracles – but with religious overtones, a young reformed drug addict wanting to pray and talk about faith, discussions about faith and science and cures for cancer, turning Harold’s walk into a pilgrimage, and Mureen’s final comment about miracles. It is a film of secular faith.

Harold Fry has had a very uneventful life, married to Maureen for decades, their one son, his rebellion, his father not knowing how to communicate with him, his suicide. He lives in Devon, quietly. He receives a message from an old friend, Queenie (Linda Bassett) who is dying of cancer. He writes a note. Maureen disapproves – and we later learn of the reasons, suspicions of Queenie in the past and her not giving her husband a message from Queenie. When Harold goes to post the letter, he delays, hearing a story from a girl at the garage about having faith and curing or alleviating cancer, he decides to walk the almost 500 miles to see Queenie.

While this seems improbable in fact, the screenplay makes it convincing, Harold, his age, slow walk, his set of clothes, including coat and tie, his shoes, unsuitable, his slow walk, the gradual consequences for his feet and legs, his buying toiletries, some accommodation, some sleeping in the woods… And, there are some wonderful vignettes of people that he encounters on the way, kind people, a farmer’s wife who listens to him, a migrant doctor from central Europe who is not allowed to practice, who cleans toilets, but is kind to Harold, attending him, gifting him with boots and, an encounter with a gay man at Exeter Station who asks his advice about a relationship, people stopping to give him a lift, a doctor who has faith but says that science cures cancer, a former drug addict who has found God and who accompanies Harold but, disappointingly, lapses, a man who gives the story to the media which leads to people greeting Harold in the street, and a band of protesters joining him with posters, chants, and a pilgrimage T-shirt for everyone.

With Harold, we traverse the whole of England, the landscapes, the towns and their vitality, people mainly friendly – though Harold excluded from a restaurant after asking for a glass of water because begging is forbidden, his breakdown in tears there. And, all the time, contact with Maureen, her disapproval, coming to meet him, her confession about Queenie, the support from the widower neighbour, Rex. And, there is the explanation of why Harold was indebted to Queenie, his reaction after his son’s suicide, his going berserk at the brewery and Queenie taking the blame and being fired – and his never thanking her.

By and large, the end of the film is played in rather low-key British manner, Harold arriving, the glimpse of Queenie, the nun welcoming Harold to the aged care, Maureen’s encouragement and arrival, Harold giving Queenie a souvenir gift of a crystal, the sun shining through it on, her and then the rays extending to all the characters Harold met during his pilgrimage.

A film that will be appreciated by older audiences – but would do good for younger audiences.

1. The title? The popularity of the book? Adapted for the screen by the author?
2. British film, opening in Devon, almost 500 miles walk the length of England, Berwick-on-Tweed? The range of vistas of the countryside, the towns and cities, city life? The musical score?
3. The basic premise of the film? Harold Fry and his life, his marriage, his son, the gradual revelation about his son, 25 years of hardship, in the marriage, in his work, not achieving anything? His age? The letter from Queenie, his response, writing the note, the discussion with the young girl at the garage, a talk about faith, her aunt and the healing from cancer (and the later revelation after Harold writes her the letter and she shows it to Maureen, the truth)? Harold and his decision to walk, telling Queenie to wait for him, the continued letters during the pilgrimage, the phone calls, the encouragement to keep walking?
4. Maureen, the years with Harold, their son, disappointment, hanging himself, the funeral, the distance between Harold and Maureen over the years? Her memories? Queenie with the message, her suspicions about Queenie, not giving the message to Harold? The use of regret? Suspicious about the letter from Queenie? Her reaction to Harold’s walking, anger, the phone calls, concern? Rex as a good neighbour, the death of his wife, friendly to Harold? Coming to visit Maureen, the drive with her? Her meeting with Harold, the coffee, her outburst? Urging him to continue, her being there at the end? Her reaction to the radio and television, the papers? The final reconciliation?
5. Harold, his clothes, shoes, not prepared for the walk, the range of kindly people he encountered, the girl at the garage and her story and his being encouraged by her, the farmer’s wife and her kindness, the gay man at Exeter Station, the offer of a lift, the doctor and his enthusiasm but highlighting science and a cure rather than faith? The encounter with Wilf, of drugs, talk about faith, prayer, continuing on the march, Wilf taking the drugs again, wanting to steal the crystal, the credibility of his lapse or not? His leaving?
6. The encounter with the doctor, her story about migration, her partner leaving her, not able to practice as a doctor, cleaning, helping Harold and his feet, the gift of the boot in the haversack, his being her guest?
7. The chat with the man on the journey, telling the story to the media, the newspapers, television, Harold not aware of it, people calling out to him, giving him the bread roll, Maureen telling him on the phone, the people joining, the placards, the procession, the chant, the songs? Camping out? Yet Harold slowing down? His leaving the group, continuing on his way?
8. The continued flashbacks to his son, the overall effect of the memories, the birth, growing up, playing with him, not allowing him the dog, the son getting into Cambridge, reaction against his father, shaving his head, the drugs, the smile at his father, yet hanging himself?
9. Getting closer to Berwick-non-Tweed, wanting to give up, the effect on his feet, sleeping out, living off the land, the restaurant, asking for the glass of water, his being ousted, his collapse and weeping?
10. Arriving, the nun, the welcome, Queenie unable to talk, the gift of the crystal, hanging it at the window? Speaking briefly? The importance of the flashbacks, seeing Queenie, her taking the blame for his destruction of the brewery, his not having thanked her?
11. Maureen arriving, their sitting on the seat, talking about Queenie, Maureen asking forgiveness?
12. Queenie, the crystal, the sun shining, and the crystal beams on the various characters that Harold had encountered?
13. A film of faith, secular faith, prayer, miracles, kindness, confession, forgiveness?