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The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (2023): Film vs Book
Film · 2023 · Directed by Hettie Macdonald · Starring Jim Broadbent, Penelope Wilton
About the film
A retired man receives a letter from an old friend and, on an impulse, sets off to walk across England to see her.
How close is it to the book?
Close to the bookThe film keeps the main journey and the gentle humor, and it gives the countryside a bright, open look. Some of the people he meets are shortened.
Read or watch first?
The novel shows Harold's thoughts as he walks, which makes the trip feel longer and more moving.
What the book gives you
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
A touching, quietly funny journey about hope, regret and the kindness of strangers. It leaves you feeling uplifted.
Who will like it: Readers who want a gentle, moving story about an ordinary man on an extraordinary walk.