The Choral

1916. As war rages on the Western Front, the Choral Society in Ramsden, Yorkshire has lost most of its men to the army. The Choral’s ambitious committee, determined to press ahead, decides to recruit local young males to swell their ranks. They must also engage a new chorus master, and despite their suspicions that he has something to hide, their best bet seems to be Dr. Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes) — driven, uncompromising, and recently returned from a career in Germany. As conscription papers start to arrive, the whole community discovers that the best response to the chaos that is laying waste to their lives is to make music together.

Scripted by Alan Bennett (who’s almost but not quite old enough to have been alive in 1916), and directed by his regular cinematic translator, Nicolas Hytner (The Madness of King George; The History Boys; The Lady in the Van), The Choral has a distinct flavour: sweet and familiar at first, but with a surprisingly tangy aftertaste.

Fiennes, who’s been going bigger than big in recent movies like 28 Years Later, here reminds us that he’s still capable of poignant subtlety. The film’s final shot will kick your heart into your throat.

Glenn Kenny, New York Times

A quiet and consistent pleasure: 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.

Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Old-fashioned in the best sense. The period details are lovingly applied; the script, by the great Alan Bennett, is beautifully crafted; and the performances, led by the marvelous Ralph Fiennes as the town’s reluctant choirmaster, are all standouts.

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor