The film opens January 16 across Canada.
Directed by Nicholas Hytner
Written by Alan Bennett
The always spectacular Ralph Fiennes shines in this dramatic wartime film, The Choral.
The film premiered as a Gala at TIFF. https://www.tiff.net/
The film blends sharp humor with a moving portrait of a community holding onto music in the middle of World War I.
Set in 1916 Yorkshire, the story follows a struggling Choral Society that’s lost most of its men to the front. Dr. Henry Guthrie (Fiennes), a mysterious new Chorus Master, is recruited to be the Choral Master, and he is determined to stage Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius—a piece that normally requires 200 singers and a full orchestra. Instead, he’s working with a handful of townsfolk, a string trio, and a few extraordinary voices he discovers along the way. With his lead singer and piano accompanist, he re-envisions the piece to bring relevance to the times they were struggling to get through.
The town is picturesque, but its people carry grief, fear, and uncertainty. Still, they rally together for Guthrie’s impossible vision, even as his bold choices threaten to unravel everything.
The Choral is a warm, witty, and quietly powerful reminder of how art can hold a community together when the world is falling apart.
The cast is excellent—Fiennes leads a lineup of richly drawn characters and genuinely impressive vocal talent. I was also struck by the film’s lighting: naturalistic yet clearly crafted with intention, giving every scene a quiet, hopeful glow.
This film may have been overshadowed by the bigger TIFF titles, but it’s absolutely worth seeking out if you appreciate the craft of truly great acting.
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