MILITARY WIVES
UK, 2020, 113 minutes, Colour.
Kristin Scott Thomas, Sharon Horgan, Jason Fleming, Greg Wise, Lara Rossi.
Directed by Peter Cattaneo.
MILITARY WIVES site
UK, 2020, 113 minutes, Colour.
Kristin Scott Thomas, Sharon Horgan, Jason Fleming, Greg Wise, Lara Rossi.
Directed by Peter Cattaneo.
British film makers have a flair for creating enjoyable films which rely on special groups, sometimes rather oppressed groups, relying on music and dance to create an enthusiastic spirit. In the 90s there was the band in Brassed Off as well as the performance of The Full Monty. In more recent times there has been Finding Your Feet and, more specifically with choral singing, the men with their shanties in Fishermen’s Friend and now the wives of men overseas on active service and their choir, Military Wives.
Interesting to note that the director of Military Wives is Peter Cattneo who, back in the 90s, was responsible for The Full Monty.
This is a fictional variation on what happened in fact, military wives forming choirs and performing, initially a way of the women coping with the absence of their husbands and the dangers of active service.
The range of wives is quite wide, British, different racial backgrounds, orientations… And, as you might expect, it is not always easy to get a group going, working together, becoming cohesive. It depends on who is in charge, who has the responsibility.
In this case, it is Lisa (Sharon Horgan), a down-to-earth type, with a problem daughter at home. However, the more aristocratic wife of an officer, Katie (who is played, as you might expect, by Kristin Scott Thomas) assumes that she is in charge. Needless to say, there are emotional prickles, some verbal jousts, leadership rivalry.
But, it doesn’t need the gift of prophecy or premonitions to know that, ultimately, there will be reconciliation and there will be success. Quite some demands on Katie.
The women are not initially the greatest of singers. However, some talent emerges, Katie organising the rehearsals by the book, over literally, Lisa more instinctive. And there are the complexities of one of the wives receiving the news of her husband’s death, its impact, the funeral, the women coming together to sing at the funeral.
There is a pleasing climax with the women singing in the Albert Hall which means that while it acknowledges ups and downs, joy and grief, apprehensions and relief, this is a feelgood film in the staunch British tradition.
1. The title? The background of the military service and wars in Afghanistan? The wives and families at home? Warfare, deaths and injuries? The women waiting at home, anxieties?
2. Based on actual events? The formation of a military wives’ choir? Morale boosting, rehearsals, composing songs, the presentation in the Albert Hall? The formation of many similar choirs?
3. Introduction to the situation, the military compound, Katie and her shopping, the guards at the gate? The brigadier’s wife? The number of wives? The focus on the men, the farewells, moving out after packing, the trucks at night?
4. The importance of music, the background school, the range of songs, Time after Time, the composition by the women? Rehearsals? Performance?
5. Katie, snobbish, not liked by the women? Her relationship with Richard, his many tours? The revelation of her son’s death in action? Her volunteering to help with the women, her agenda, Lisa as having the commission, her continued taking over from Lisa? The list of suggestions for clubs, the failure of the knitting club? The suggestion about singing? Katie taking it seriously, reading the books, conducting the choir, very traditional, Morning Has Broken? The increasing clashes with Lisa, putting her down?
6. Lisa, her husband, problems with Frankie at home, at the post office? Attitude towards Katie, and vice versa? With the group, Katie taking over, the various suggestions? Lisa’s musical background, getting out her piano, encouraging women to sing songs that they knew, the failure of the knitting club?
7. Frankie, relationship with her father, going out, abrupt attitude towards her mother? Some breakthroughs? Watching Rocky together? Her drinking, collapse, Katie caring for her, her response to Katie? Looking after the children during rehearsals? On the bus? Clash with her mother, reconciliation?
8. The other women, the sadness of the young wife whose husband is killed, the messages coming to the house, her grief, Katie and her support, the other women coming to support her, her urging them not to give up the performance? Asking them to sing Ave Maria at the service, the sadness of the service, the gun salute at the funeral? The continuing with the choir? The young mother with her son, Skype with her husband? Discovering her capacity for singing, solo? Her embarrassment, covering her eyes, the contemplation and hiding behind the curtain? The tall thin exuberant singer? Ruby and her deep voice, her wife at the front?
9. The ups and downs of the work together, classifying the voices, rough and ready, yet good with the songs they knew, the improvement with Time after Time? Crooke and the brigadier, the earphones at first, taking them off, the brigadier listening, the invitation to sing at the Albert Hall?
10. The continuing tensions, almost reconciliation between Lisa and Katie? The conversation about her dead son? Some of his final words – and Lisa incorporating them into the song? Katie upset, private conversation, her harsh outburst against Lisa, Lisa and her criticisms of Katie? Katie walking out?
11. Richard, wounded, returning, hospital, at home, commenting on Katie’s compulsive buying, seeing her sitting in her son’s car, going out, comforting her, Katie’s confession of her harshness, the decision to go to the Albert Hall?
12. Lisa and Katie apologies, joining the group, the rehearsals, the performance, the emotional impact of the song, audience response?
13. Back home, happy group, the range of photos of all the military wives choirs throughout the UK?
