I walked into the theater without much in the way of expectations for the new project uniting director Nicholas Hytner (The Madness of King George) and writer Alan Bennett. My only certainty was the presence of Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) and the promise of a historical drama centered on music.
The Choral takes us to 1916, during World War I, where a choral society in a small Yorkshire town has lost most of its male members to the army. To save their annual performance, the group is forced to hire Dr. Henry Guthrie (Fiennes), an uncompromising and controversial conductor who recruits teenagers and young adults to fill the chorus ranks. The narrative focuses on how art serves as a sanctuary and how making music together allows the community to find distraction and, perhaps, some relief from the imminent tragedy that the world conflict brings to their lives.
The Choral review
As a friend aptly observed, The Choral is one of those movies our grandmothers would love. It’s harmless and pleasant, serving as a cozy wool blanket, but unfortunately, it never delves into what truly matters, sticking instead to the comfort of the surface. The film’s central idea — the search for shelter in art during times of grief and uncertainty — is noble and potentially powerful. The music, namely the oratorio “The Dream of Gerontius,” should be the bridge for healing pain and providing a distraction from the horrors of war.
However, The Choral handles this theme in such a light, cautious manner that the premise never achieves the emotional impact it promises. Pain and mourning are depicted on screen, but the approach is too reserved, resulting in a musical cure that’s presented without the necessary depth and gravity of the wound it ought to be healing.
A great part of this superficiality lies in the character work. Fiennes is, predictably, excellent in his restraint and precision, but, surprisingly, his Dr. Guthrie is a figure that’s manifestly underutilized. His controversial persona, with immense emotional potential to explore personal grief, secrets — like his sexual orientation and ties to Germany — or even the rigidity of his method, is reduced to a set of inflexible traits without any compelling character arc. This lack of evolution affects the entire cast. The various storylines, from teenage romances to the lives of older members, all remain at a surface level, failing to make us genuinely invest in the fate of each individual, even when the threat of conscription becomes real.
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The theatrical origin of Bennett and Hytner is noticeable, as The Choral is staged more like a play rather than a movie. This scenic rigidity doesn’t always translate well to cinematic language, appearing at times claustrophobic rather than expansive. In contrast, the humor is efficient. The jokes, especially those delivered with impeccable timing by Taylor Uttley (Young Wallander), got many chuckles from the audience. Although there might be an excess of sexual observations, the chemistry among the young actors provides lightness and vibrancy to the interactions.
From a technical and musical standpoint, it’s difficult to accuse the film of incompetence. The vocal performances are angelic, and the singing sequences are well-shot, with some even standing out visually. The performances, in general, are good, but the lack of emotional investment in the characters’ journeys prevents the culminating moment — the grand concert under Dr. Guthrie’s direction — from being truly moving. The music is beautiful, but the emotion wasn’t earned by the narrative development, and thus, the catharsis is missed.
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Is The Choral worth watching?
The Choral is a passable yet forgettable experience. While the vocal performances are heavenly and the premise of finding refuge in art is noble, its thematic and narrative approach is too shallow. The lack of development for all characters prevents catharsis and emotional impact, leaving the audience with a movie that feels more like a rigid stage play than a cinematic drama. It’s a mere fleeting comfort whose beautiful music cannot conceal the superficiality of its story.
The Choral releases in theaters on December 25.
