This week’s entertainment highlights feature the critically acclaimed film The Ballad of Wallis Island alongside vibrant music festivals, poignant stories on screen, and fresh art exhibitions, offering a rich mix of cultural experiences both in venues and online.
The week ahead brings an enticing array of entertainment choices, showcasing a diverse selection of films, music, art, and live performances. As cinemas reopen their doors to audiences, there’s much to look forward to, from quirky comedy-dramas to thought-provoking documentaries.
One standout film, The Ballad of Wallis Island, co-written and co-starring Tim Key, has already garnered significant attention since its recent release. Following Charles, an eccentric lottery winner, this whimsical yet poignant tale sees him arranging a private concert on a remote island for his favourite musical act, the folk duo McGwyer Mortimer, brilliantly portrayed by Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan. Critics have noted the film’s sharp wordplay and its delicate balance between absurdity and melancholy. With a commendable 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, viewers seem to resonate with its heartfelt narrative, which “hums along a sweet melody” without veering into excessive sentimentality.
In contrast, The Salt Path, a film adaptation of Raynor Winn’s bestselling memoir, presents a more grounded story set against the stunning backdrop of the southwest coast of England. Starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs, it follows a married couple grappling with loss and illness as they embark on a 630-mile pilgrimage along the coastline. The film has been praised for its ability to juxtapose the raw beauty of the landscape with the couple’s emotional struggles, making for a touching cinematic experience. This exploration of resilience and human connection is particularly relevant as audiences continue to seek authentic narratives in an era often dominated by spectacle.
The world of music and performance is equally vibrant this week. The Lido Festival kicks off in Victoria Park, London, promising a stellar line-up that includes iconic acts like Massive Attack and Charli XCX. With such heavyweight performances, it is set to attract a lively crowd, showcasing both established artists and fresh talent. Similarly, iconic rapper Nelly embarks on his UK tour to celebrate the anniversary of his breakthrough album, Country Grammar, bringing a nostalgic yet electrifying energy to arenas across the country.
Art enthusiasts are in for a treat as well. The Sussex Modernism exhibition at Towner Eastbourne unpacks the rich cultural history of the region, featuring influential figures such as Jeff Keen and Jacob Epstein. Concurrently, the grand opening of the V&A East Storehouse invites the public to explore a newly-created home for an astonishing range of artefacts, promising to astonish visitors with its display of creativity and curiosities.
For those opting to stay in, streaming services are brimming with engaging options. What It Feels Like for a Girl, based on the memoir of journalist Paris Lees, captures the tumultuous teenage years of a young trans person in early 2000s Britain, offering both a personal and relatable narrative against the backdrop of the changing cultural landscape. Additionally, the quirky series Stick on Apple TV+, led by Owen Wilson, promises to bring humour to the world of golf in a fresh and entertaining way.
With compelling choices across all forms of entertainment, whether you venture out or choose to stay in, this week offers something for everyone. It’s an invitation to engage with stories and experiences that resonate, challenge, and entertain.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/may/31/going-out-staying-in-complete-entertainment-guide-week-ahead – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.ft.com/content/6253f742-6ed8-4f65-8fa9-346050e0073d – A review of ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ highlights its whimsical yet soulful storytelling. Co-written and starring Tim Key, the film follows Charles, a lottery winner who arranges a private concert on a remote island for his favourite musical act. The cast includes Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan as the folk duo McGwyer Mortimer. The film is praised for its sharp wordplay, unexpected poignancy, and balance between absurdity and melancholy. It opens in UK cinemas on May 30 and receives a solid four-star review.
- https://www.ft.com/content/ff740a82-be3c-4ab1-933a-d9ba3f65dfdd – An article discusses the film adaptation of ‘The Salt Path,’ starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. The drama is based on Raynor Winn’s bestselling memoir, depicting a 630-mile pilgrimage along the coast in Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset. Anderson and Isaacs play a married couple who, after losing their home and facing illness, embark on a journey with minimal resources. The film blends the beauty of the coastline with the couple’s emotional and physical hardships, focusing on their core relationship and omitting extensive background and secondary characters.
- https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_ballad_of_wallis_island – The Rotten Tomatoes page for ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ features a 97% Tomatometer score based on 79 critic reviews and a 92% audience score from over 100 verified ratings. The film follows Charles, an eccentric lottery winner who invites his favourite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer, to reunite for a private concert on his remote island. The critics consensus states that the film ‘hums along a sweet melody without lapsing into outright sentimentality, mining a great deal of warmth from its humble premise.’
- https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_ballad_of_wallis_island – The Rotten Tomatoes page for ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ features a 97% Tomatometer score based on 79 critic reviews and a 92% audience score from over 100 verified ratings. The film follows Charles, an eccentric lottery winner who invites his favourite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer, to reunite for a private concert on his remote island. The critics consensus states that the film ‘hums along a sweet melody without lapsing into outright sentimentality, mining a great deal of warmth from its humble premise.’
- https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_ballad_of_wallis_island – The Rotten Tomatoes page for ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ features a 97% Tomatometer score based on 79 critic reviews and a 92% audience score from over 100 verified ratings. The film follows Charles, an eccentric lottery winner who invites his favourite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer, to reunite for a private concert on his remote island. The critics consensus states that the film ‘hums along a sweet melody without lapsing into outright sentimentality, mining a great deal of warmth from its humble premise.’
- https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_ballad_of_wallis_island – The Rotten Tomatoes page for ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ features a 97% Tomatometer score based on 79 critic reviews and a 92% audience score from over 100 verified ratings. The film follows Charles, an eccentric lottery winner who invites his favourite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer, to reunite for a private concert on his remote island. The critics consensus states that the film ‘hums along a sweet melody without lapsing into outright sentimentality, mining a great deal of warmth from its humble premise.’
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is current, published on May 31, 2025, and provides up-to-date information on entertainment events and releases. The films ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ and ‘The Salt Path’ were released in UK cinemas on May 30, 2025, indicating the report’s timeliness.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative does not contain direct quotes, focusing instead on summarising and providing information about the films and events.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Guardian, a reputable UK newspaper known for its journalistic standards, enhancing the credibility of the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The events and releases mentioned align with known schedules and information. The films ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ and ‘The Salt Path’ have been released in UK cinemas on May 30, 2025, confirming the accuracy of the report.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is current, sourced from a reputable outlet, and accurately reports on recent entertainment events and releases, with no signs of disinformation or recycled content.
