THE CHORAL Special Screenings

Oscar® nominee Ralph Fiennes leads this stirring and joyful period piece, set in a small Yorkshire town against the backdrop of WWI. Two years into the war, the local choral society has lost nearly all of its male singers to the Western Front. When their choral master decides to enlist, Dr. Guthrie (Fiennes), an eccentric, but brilliant outsider, steps in to lead. A passionate, if prickly, devotee of music, Guthrie proceeds to scout out a new ensemble, recruiting women, teenagers awaiting conscription and wounded soldiers, all tasked with mounting a production of Edward Elgar’s “The Dream of Gerontius” before the next wave of young men is sent to war. Directed by Nicholas Hytner (THE HISTORY BOYS, THE LADY IN THE VAN) and written by longtime collaborator and legendary playwright Alan Bennett (THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE), THE CHORAL also features a stellar ensemble that includes Simon Russell Beale and Roger Allam, alongside a wonderful cast of young newcomers. Cinematographer Mike Eley captures the lush landscapes and quaint vistas of early 20th-century Yorkshire with wide, painterly compositions, and 12-time Oscar® winner Jenny Beavan crafts beautiful period costumes to match. With perfectly balanced moments of levity and pathos, THE CHORAL offers a timely reminder that even in the bleakest times, music and art can forge bonds and bring light. –Abbie Algar