Patrick Kielty and Seána Kerslake play characters who’ve lost their way in life in Ballywalter – here’s our review.
It’s clear from the very start of actor Prasanna Puwanarajah’s debut feature that star Seána Kerslake is the driving force – literally. We meet the young Eileen ferrying people around Ballywalter in the unlicensed taxi loaned to her by an ex-boyfriend. She splits her time between that and working in a coffee shop, though she lacks the extroverted qualities required for both. Kerslake balances the character’s conflicting traits brilliantly. Eileen is at once extremely guarded, saying little about herself, but also outspoken and sharp-tongued when needed. She’s a big personality while not revealing much beyond the surface.
As she muddles through, making ends meet, she begins to regularly drive the likeably quiet Shane (Patrick Kielty) into Belfast. It’s Kielty’s first dramatic role, and he’s tasked with portraying an everyman-type figure with hidden depths. As Shane continues to attend stand-up comedy classes following a split from his wife, he and Eileen slowly get to know each other – and come to terms with their own inner demons.
Penned by Stacey Gregg of 2021’s Here Before, the script really leans into the mundane aspects of its character’s lives. Both Eileen and Shane are running from themselves, wrapping themselves up in work or newfound hobbies to avoid thinking about the trajectory of their lives. Shane’s divorce is the catalyst for his escape, and Eileen has ended up back in the Northern Irish town after her degree and high flying London job didn’t work out as hoped. They’re both very ordinary people leading ordinary lives, although they’re anything but simple.
As Eileen’s life continues on a downward spiral, we also learn more about Shane. It’s here that Kielty’s performance falters. He’s very likeable in this, but when he’s required to bring a greater range and depth of emotion to Shane it doesn’t always work.
Ballywalter could easily lean more into the melodramatic side of the tale, but instead it uses comedy. Shane’s course especially demonstrates the power of laughter to help struggling people find a way forward. However, as the inclusion of a stand-up course might suggest, there are some (intentionally) pretty terrible attempts at jokes peppered throughout which certainly sets cringe alarms ringing.
Comedic aspects aside, there’s a very genuine heart to this film. Watching the leads slowly letting their guards down and opening up to each other is lovely. Ballywalter depicts them struggling with the curveballs life has thrown at them in a very natural, normalising way. Ultimately, shit happens, and the film is a warm reminder that having a good laugh and a friend to confide in can be ever so important when life gets messy.
Ballywalter is in cinemas on 22nd September.
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