The Choral (2025)
Plenty of movies have been made about the home front during World War II, but Nicholas Hytner's new film The Choral is a fascinating look at a small British mill town in the early days of World War I.
Henry (Ralph Fiennes) is a conductor recently returned to England at the start of the war after a long stay in Germany. As a result, the townspeople are mostly either suspicious of or downright hostile to him. The fact that he is gay also factors into their judgments (the movie never uses the word "gay" but instead has characters describe Henry as having "peculiarities" and not being "a family man"). His lover is fighting in the war for the Germans. After the town choral society's existing conductor enlists in the war effort, the society is desperate to find someone to take his place, so they settle on Henry.
Everyone involved in the choral society's new production is carrying a weight. Aside from Henry, the mill owner (Roger Allam) who bankrolls their performances lost his only son in the war, and his wife is near catatonic as a result. The best tenor (Jacob Dudman) has just returned from the war after losing an arm, only to find his wife (Emily Fairn) has left him for another man. The piano player (Robert Emms) is a conscientious objector who knows he will be sent to prison soon. Three of the other members are about to turn 18 and know they will be sent to the front as soon as they do.
The film's major thematic point is that art, even when created and performed by amateurs, can help people get through the darkest, most painful periods in their lives. The world is often a cruel and insane place, and artistic creation can provide a respite and reminder that there is beauty in the world.
It's also worth noting that Fiennes is one of the world's best living actors. Just like Michael Caine and Gene Hackman, he can wow audiences in any kind of role. He can play the hero or the villain and everything in between. He can do drama and comedy equally well. He's a treasure to watch.
Anyone looking to enjoy a mature, humanist drama made for adults
should check out The Choral before it leaves theaters.
