This review was made possible by Popped attending a Press and Industry screening for The Choral at the 69th London Film Festival.
The year is 1916. Whilst war rages on the Western Front, a 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, as well as 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), a character who is 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.
‘The Choral’ Offers Harmony in Hardship
Directed by Nicholas Hytner and from a script by Alan Bennett, The Choral is a heartfelt wartime drama about the power of community and the solace of song. While the film features moments of humour, particularly during the clumsy audition scenes or the light-hearted camaraderie among the choir, Bennett’s screenplay leans into melancholy massively. The emotional undercurrents are unmistakable: a quaint Yorkshire town marked by loss, soldiers facing mortality, and characters clinging to music as their last form of resistance and hope.
Fiennes is exceptional here; his performance throughout the film is layered with passion and at sometimes regret. What is most interesting about his portrayal of Guthrie is his love for music, partnered up with his conflicted affection for Germany, and the quiet possibility of losing someone in the war, which really helps give the film its emotional depth. As you can expect, his character is not the only person we see dealing with the fallout of a World War, and it’s interesting to see very different outcomes of the war, and how the mental toll affects all scales of society – from mothers, to partner’s to the young men still tackling adolescence.
Around Fiennes, there is a spoiling of supporting performances, after all, this film revolves around a full community of voices. Mark Addy brings his usual warmth and familiarity, which is such a joy to watch, I found myself smiling every time he was on screen, while Robert Emms adds subtle poignancy as the closeted pianist Robert Horner. Rising star from a music theatre background, Amara Okereke is a revelation, with her soaring vocals breathing so much life into Gerontius.
A Visually Grounded Wartime Portrait
Visually, the film is simply conventional but authentic. The Yorkshire setting feels lived-in and tactile, from old shop fronts to distant mills, capturing a community grounded in realism rather than cinematic grandeur. It may not be Hytner’s most ambitious work, but it moves with purpose and quiet grace.
The final act, built around the choir’s performance, is where The Choral truly finds its voice. Transforming Gerontius into a reflection of wartime Britain, with purgatory reimagined as No Man’s Land, it is both mournful and uplifting. It captures the film’s belief that music can bind people together even in their darkest hour. Whilst the film isn’t a fully-fledged “musical”, I’m sure those who take an interest in the genre will definitely take enjoyment from the music throughout.
‘The Choral’ – Final Thoughts
The Choral won’t linger forever in the memory, but it’s a comfort film, a feel-good wartime story with enough heart and harmony to make its message resonate. Older audiences, Yorkshire locals, and anyone with a love of choral music will find plenty to admire.
The Choral releases in cinemas on November 7. Check out the trailer below:
