The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (film)

Broadbent joined the project to play Harold in February 2021.[4] Broadbent had previously also voiced the audiobook. He also previously worked with the author of the book when she worked as an actress, Joyce had played Perdita to his Leontes in a production of The Winter’s Tale at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in 1987.[5] Penelope Wilton joined the project in June 2021.[6]

Filming took place mainly on location to match Harold’s walk in the story. Filming began in Devon in September 2021.[7] Devon filming locations included Kingsbridge, Loddiswell, South Brent, Higher Dean, Buckfast, Exeter, Tiverton and Appledore.[8] Filming also took place in Bath, Somerset, and Gloucestershire,[9] Ripley, Derbyshire as well as on the border between Wakefield and Dewsbury,[10] and Sheffield, Yorkshire.[11]

A soundtrack featuring music and original songs from the film was released featuring two original songs written and performed by Sam Lee.[12]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry holds an approval rating of 83% based on 29 critic reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "If The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry follows a well-worn path, having Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton as guides makes it difficult to complain."[13]

Deborah Ross for The Spectator described it as an “incredibly beautiful film to look at” and that “Broadbent is a wonder, so real and sincere it doesn’t feel like acting…and Wilton equals him”. Ross concluded that “this may even be one of those rare instances where the film is better than the book.”[14] Kevin Maher in The Times described it as “immediately one of the great movies about ageing and regret” with director Macdonald a “secret weapon” whose “return to cinema is something to be celebrated”.[15] Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian was more critical of the suspension of reality required with the plot, saying that whilst it was “impeccably acted, sincerely intended and often beautifully shot” there was something “unsatisfying” in the “solemn, self-conscious fantasy”.[16]