Page 100 - Metropolis Magazine nº99

TV CINE FEST

THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY

«The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry» is a road The main protagonists (Harold and Maureen) reveal
movie in which the legendary British actor Jim Broa- themselves in this story in a long-distance dialogue
dbent carries the narrative and the best moments of full of silences and pauses. It's a look beneath the sur-
this work with him. The protagonist, Harold Fry (Jim face where we realise the repression of sorrow and the
Broadbent), is having breakfast with his wife Maureen real reasons for the journey in search of peace with the
(Penelope Wilton, a Dame of British acting) when he past. It's a beautiful journey through the natural and
receives a letter from a former work colleague whom emotional landscape. A note for the participation in
he hasn't heard from in about 20 years, informing the film of Earl Cave, son of the artist Nick Cave, in
him that she is about to die. Harold writes a reply, and an equally intense performance. The film was directed
when he goes to the post office, he decides to hand-de- by Hettie Macdonald, and the screenplay is by Rachel
liver the letter to his colleague. And so begins Harold's Joyce, who based it on a radio theatre play of hers
800-kilometre journey on foot from the south to the performed by three actors. This is only Hettie Macdo-
northeast of England. This story is a box of surpri- nald's second film in nearly 30 years, but the director
ses, and it feels good to travel to the rhythm of these has plenty of television experience. Her portfolio in-
unexpected events. The narrative is fertile, with little cludes, for example, directing six of the 12 episodes
stories of interactions along the journey. These inte- of the acclaimed series «Normal People» (2020), with
ractions force Harold to reflect on his own existence. Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones. JORGE PINTO

100 METROPOLIS OCTOBER 2023