I’ve already gone to the “they don’t make them like they used to” well this year with Nuremberg, a courtroom drama that seems pulled from somewhere between 1995 and 2005. Here, The Choral reminds me of the kind of uplifting war-adjacent stories we got like Mrs Henderson Presents, or other “movies for grown ups” like Calendar Girls or Waking Ned Devine. Somehow a film like this now comes around and festival audiences react like they’ve just seen some schmaltzy drivel. the reality is, we’re living in an everything Everywhere Saw The TV Glow kind of world, and the kinds of influencers, film twitters, and yes, critics, have moved away from things like The Choral.

I’d argue the Choral has a familiarity to it, like comfort food, which is hard to come by. The kinds of things we seem to make now for older audiences are absolute crap like Summer Camp, 80 For Brady, and The Fabulous Four. I don’t know what baby boomers are watching anymore, but probably just reruns of Matlock.

But Sony Pictures classics has taken this simple World War II drama about a small town dealing with the persistent loss of their young men to the draft, leaving a town full of women, and men either too young, or too old to serve. but they really love their music, and their singing group that brightens the community with its operatic endeavors. When their current choirmaster is drafted, they’re left scrambling for a new hire. They choose a very renowned, and controversial conductor who spent a little too much time in Germany, past the time of comfort.

But of course, he’ll get the job, and whip the group into shape as they also learn that initial opinions may not be as reliable as they thought. he brings along with him his own accompanist, and the relationship between those two certainly adds quite a bit to the dramatic weight of the film.In one scene, we see the town celebrate about the destruction of a German boat, and Fiennes’s stoic and unwavering lack of reaction. Later, we get the context, and it says so much about him, and perhaps why he stayed in Germany.

the supporting cast full of British character actors are lovely, and it is a strong ensemble across the board. I appreciated even how they chose a lesser work to perform, instead of something everyone would know like La Boheme.

The Choral may not be a shock to the system, but it captures the reliable charm of films from years ago, and manages to make that magic happen here.

the Choral is a film that feels like it is from a different decade, but maintains the same level of emotional resonance and charm. I wish more could get on board with a lighter touch because we could use more of this.

Fresh: Final Grade: 8.2/10