The uplifting story behind the first military wives choir is a tale of music, fun and laughter
IT’S the feel- good film of the year, the inspirational true story of how a group of women came together in adversity and sang their way into the nation’s hearts.
MILITARY Wives, which is released this Friday, tells the heart-warming and uplifting real-life tale of a choir set up to provide support and friendship for those left behind when their loved ones went off to war. Directed by The Full Monty’s Peter Cattaneo, it follows their fortunes as they catch the ear of the Army top brass and are picked to perform at the prestigious Service of Remembrance at London's Royal Albert Hall. But with two very different women at the helm, each with very different ideas on how to do things, it’s not all plain sailing. Uptight and controlling colonel’s wife Kate (Oscar nominee and BAFTA winner Kristin Scott Thomas) favours sheet music, the classics and enunciating the letter 't'. Laidback sergeant major’s wife Lisa (Catastrophe’s Sharon Horgan) prefers 80s electropop, wine and fun. But will they be able to put aside their differences for long enough for them to give the performance of their lives?
FINDING THEIR INNER VOICES
THE film was inspired by the setting up of military wives choirs to provide support for women when their partners went off to war in Afghanistan in 2010. TV's Gareth Malone soon became involved, setting up a group in Chivenor, Devon, then in Plymouth, filmed for the BBC series The Choir; Military Wives. The show became an instant phenomenon, leading to a performance at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011, and a number one hit single.
Wherever You Are.
To honour their story, the movie was shot on location at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, using real soldiers and their families from the base, and even the house on which the first ever meeting was held. While laugh-out-loud funny, the film also shines a rare light on the difficult lives of the
women left behind when soldiers go off to war. Left to raise children single-handedly for months at a time, all the while dreading a knock at the door with bad news, they rely on friendship and mutual support to keep going. It was this fighting spirit that drew Peter Cattaneo to the project. ‘I started meeting real military wives,’ he says. ‘Rich themes soon showed themselves: a fragmented group of people finding unity and camaraderie through song; women who are expected to “keep quiet and carry on "finding their voices. ‘We got to know some very courageous and candid military wives, and the personal stories they shared were humbling, sometimes harrowing, often hilarious. I was struck by their honest, down-to-earth sense of humour and I was determined to fill the film with this kind of comedy.' Sharon Horgan says: ‘I understand why these amazing, brave women wanted these choirs in the first place. They bring people together.’ All the singing was recorded live on set, so its imperfections would mirror the beginnings of any new choir
AUTHENTICITY AND SPONTANEITY
FOR extra authenticity and spontaneity, the actresses weren’t allowed to practise any of the songs sung towards the beginning of the movie before filming: only the final number was rehearsed. ‘Peter didn’t want us to sing very well,’ laughs Sharon. ‘He wanted us to get better over time. Any time he saw us practising he freaked out!’ You'll have to watch the film to see if they improved…
All the singing was recorded live on set, so its imperfections would mirror the beginnings of any new choir