内容摘要：HAMM, Germany (AP) — A German court ruled against a Peruvian farmer on Wednesday in a

HAMM, Germany (AP) — A German court ruled against a Peruvian farmer on Wednesday in a

“Black Bag,” a Focus Features release is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for language including some sexual references, and some violence. Running time: 93 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.It’s never a bad time for a film like

but at the moment it feels like a much-needed balm. Modest in scope and made with the lightest of touch, not unlike the lovely folk songs that populate its soundtrack, it’s also deceptively powerful: A gentle ode to moving on, in quirky packaging.This is a movie about a kind, chatty man named Charles (Tim Key) who invites his favorite folk band to play a concert on the remote island where he lives alone in a massive old home. Charles is a semi-recluse only by circumstance: He’s holed himself up in this home full of eccentric acquisitions over the years after a lucky lottery win (there’s another punchline there, but I won’t spoil it).Wallis Island, though beautiful and serene, with white cliffs and rocky shores (it was shot in Wales), is not the kind of place where there’s a lot of socializing, but there is quite a bit of time for reflection, hobbies and, probably, talking to oneself at length. And Charles’s greatest passion is McGwyer Mortimer (Tom Basden and

), a once popular folk group who have not been together, professionally or romantically, for almost a decade.That this is to be a reunion is terrible news for Herb McGwyer (Basden), who has made a name for himself as a solo artist and who arrives first, already aggrieved about the decisions that have led him here. All he seems to know is that it’s a small gig that will get him a cool half million pounds, which will effectively finance his next album. Everything else about this journey to Wallis Island comes as an unwelcome surprise, starting with the fact that there’s no dock, no car, no hotel and he’s stuck as Charles’ houseguest.

The owner of the small general store (Sian Clifford, always a welcome presence) does not even carry rice, which Herb needs to dry out his water damaged phone. That’s a special order. And then Nell Mortimer (Mulligan) arrives, new husband, Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen) in tow. Herb, faced now with his ex, has no phone and no escape plan: The one man who ferries people to and from the main island doesn’t even keep a reliable schedule (the boat times are listed with a disclaimer: “sometimes”).

Nell, meanwhile, is ready to perform with her old beau. She needs the money, but has also moved on with her life — making chutney in the Pacific Northwest, and seems to be in a good place. Herb remains the put-upon artist, a ball of childish anxiety and ego who has since sold out and seems to regret how things transpired with Nell so many years ago. And then there’s Charles who is simply elated to be in the presence of these two. It’s a fun group of somewhat conflicting interests to mash together.But after this rush of cavalier soldiering and bitter sarcasm comes a sobering moment. Merit blinks her eyes and is instead staring at an empty chair. Zoe isn’t there at all.

“My Dead Friend Zoe,” co-starringand Ed Harris, confronts a dark reality of post-combat struggle with as much humor and playfulness as it does trauma and sorrow. It comes from a real place, and you can tell. Hausmann-Stoke is himself a veteran and “My Dead Friend Zoe” is dedicated to a pair of his platoon mates who killed themselves. The opening titles note the film was “inspired by a true story.”

Audience disinterest has characterized many, though not all, of the films about theand the output has pretty much dried up over the years. “My Dead Friend Zoe” feels like it was made with an awareness of that trend and as a rebuke to it.