Alan Bennett’s latest film, The Choral, directed by Nicholas Hytner and featuring Ralph Fiennes, has recently premiered in UK cinemas. This First World War drama reunites Bennett and Hytner, blending historical context with intimate themes, while delivering a showcase for Ralph Fiennes’s compelling performance.
A Reunion of Creative Forces Amidst a WWI Backdrop
The Choral marks another collaboration between playwright and screenwriter Alan Bennett and director Nicholas Hytner, famously known for their work on The History Boys and The Madness of King George. The film is set during the First World War in Yorkshire, where a choir embarks on a challenging musical endeavor featuring Edward Elgar’s compositions, serving as a source of hope amid turmoil.
Ralph Fiennes stars as Dr. Henry Guthrie, a Yorkshire choirmaster with a complex personal history, including skepticism from his community due to his atheism and connections to Germany. Fiennes returns to major screen roles ahead of his planned stage return in London, following his recent appearances at Theatre Royal Bath.
Nicholas Hytner, continuing in his role as artistic director of London’s Bridge Theatre, oversees this production, which blends Bennett’s characteristic wit with themes of grief, desire, and national identity.
Early Critical Response Highlights Ralph Fiennes’s Performance
The film’s release has drawn a range of responses, with most critics agreeing on the strength of Ralph Fiennes’s portrayal of Henry Guthrie and the value of Bennett and Hytner’s reunion. The story balances humour with melancholy, capturing the emotional complexity of a community facing war.
Critics noted the film’s combination of Bennett’s gallows humour and a sensitive examination of sexuality and grief, framed by the communal act of singing in a time of crisis.
Positive Reception from The Telegraph and The Guardian
Robbie Collin of The Telegraph praises Fiennes as “unassumingly tremendous” in what he calls a
wintry tale of art blooming in adversity
, emphasizing the film’s depth beyond its initial underdog narrative.
Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian also awards four stars, noting the film as a quiet and consistent pleasure, with Bennett’s script rooted in wit and emotional realism. Bradshaw appreciates the film’s candid approach to themes of sex and desire, highlighting communal singing as a form of salvation for a town overshadowed by the war.
The Times Commends Bennett and Hytner’s Collaboration
Kevin Maher of The Times labels the film a successful reunion, dubbing the pair the dream team. He describes the movie as a
sensitive exploration of the national character
, drawing attention to Fiennes’s nuanced portrayal of Guthrie and Roger Allam’s depiction of Bernard Duxbury, a mill owner who turns to singing as a means to manage grief.
Maher acknowledges some questioning of certain dramatic choices but finds that the ensemble cast and Hytner’s direction deliver a rewarding emotional impact.
Measured Praise and Criticism from the Financial Times and Daily Mail
Jonathan Romney of the Financial Times offers a more moderate view, awarding three stars to what he calls a classic ensemble film with a broad blend of tragicomic moments. He praises Fiennes’s typically strong performance but suggests the film’s restrained visual style misses some of Bennett’s sharper social critiques, resulting in a piece that, in his eyes, is “perfectly tuned, but never soars.”
In contrast, Brian Viner of the Daily Mail provides a critical perspective with two stars. While he appreciates the experienced cast including Fiennes, Roger Allam, and Simon Russell Beale, Viner views the script as lacking, calling it second-rate Bennett and second-rate Hytner. He argues the film suffers from trying to juggle too many genres, leading to uneven storytelling and underwhelming dialogue.
The Film’s Broader Artistic and Cultural Context
The Choral continues the tradition of British films that explore community resilience and cultural identity through music, drawing comparisons to works like Brassed Off and Victoria Wood’s That Day We Sang. The use of Elgar’s music amplifies the emotional threads without overwhelming the grounded storytelling.
Ralph Fiennes’s role as Henry Guthrie, a man caught between cultures and personal loss, anchors the narrative, while the ensemble cast brings to life the varied responses of a Yorkshire town navigating war and change.
Upcoming Projects and Screening Information
The Choral is currently showing in cinemas across the UK. Ralph Fiennes will return to the London stage in David Hare’s upcoming play Grace Pervades, which opens at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 24 April 2026.
Nicholas Hytner’s Bridge Theatre will next present the production Into the Woods, continuing his involvement with London’s vibrant theatrical scene.
