The Choral

(12A) 1 hour 53 mins
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Roger Allam, Mark Addy, Alun Armstrong, Robert Emms, Simon Russell Beale
Read the BBFC report here

As war rages across Europe in 1916, the Choral Society in Ramsden, Yorkshire has seen many of its singers depart to fight on the Western Front. The society’s ambitious committee, determined to press ahead with its latest performance, decides to recruit local teenagers to fill in the positions.

They must also hire a new chorus master, settling on the driven and uncompromising Dr Henry Guthrie. Having recently returned from working in Germany, and unafraid to openly speak German, they put aside their suspicions he has something to hide. As more conscription papers arrive, Dr Guthrie inspires the whole community to respond to the chaos by making music together.

Starring Ralph Fiennes and directed by Nicholas Hytner, this historical comedy-drama has some humorous moments as it shows how community spirit can help pull us through dark and difficult times.

“an unsentimental but deeply felt drama which subcontracts actual passion to the music of Elgar and leaves us with a heartbeat of wit, poignancy and common sense” The Guardian

“A light, low-key crowdpleaser that occasionally steps into more harrowing territory before neatly spinning right out of it” IndieWire

“boasts a humorous approach to a community’s inability to directly speak about the horrors of war” Screen International

12A: infrequent strong language, moderate sex