The Choral (2025)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
In 1916 Yorkshire, a local choral society faces internal and external pressures while preparing a performance of Elgar's music during the height of World War I.
The story
Set in 1916 in the fictional town of Ramsden, Yorkshire, during World War I, the film follows a local choral society. Following the departure of their choirmaster to the army, the group faces a dilemma in selecting a replacement. They ultimately appoint Dr. Henry Guthrie, a man whose personal beliefs and identity spark controversy within the community. The group must navigate local hostility and the pressures of the war while preparing a performance of Edward Elgar's 'The Dream of Gerontius'. As they struggle to find enough male voices and navigate the complexities of their circumstances, the choir strives to complete their performance despite the mounting tensions of the era.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1916 Yorkshire, a choral group in the town of Ramsden appoints Dr. Henry Guthrie as their new choirmaster. Guthrie faces immediate hostility, including a brick through a window, due to his personal beliefs and the choice of Elgar's 'The Dream of Gerontius' over a German work. To fill the ranks of men lost to the war, Guthrie recruits voices from a local pub and a military hospital. Amidst the conflict, personal dramas unfold: a woman named Bella deals with the return of her 'missing' lover, Clyde, who arrives with an amputated arm; Guthrie's pianist, Robert, faces a hostile conscription board; and the group must navigate the complexities of their roles in a war-torn land. They eventually stage a modified version of the work, which becomes a success. The story concludes with the men of the choir being conscripted, their lives forever changed as they head to the front, while others face imprisonment or personal sacrifices.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 113
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Nicholas Hytner
- Writers
- Alan Bennett · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ralph Fiennes; Roger Allam; Mark Addy; Alun Armstrong; Robert Emms; Simon Russell Beale
- Genres
- historical drama
- Themes
- war; identity; artistic integrity
- Tone and mood
- drama
- Premise and plot tags
- period piece; musical
- Source material / true-story basis
- original screenplay
- Reception
- The film received mixed or average reviews from critics, with some describing it as a quiet and consistent pleasure.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 60 · scale: 100 · review count: 24
- Production trivia
- The film's script is an original screenplay, unlike the director's previous collaborations with the writer.; The score was composed by George Fenton, who also appears in a cameo role as Elgar's driver.; Members of the Huddersfield Choral Society believe the film is based on their choir's history.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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