Director
Peter Cattaneo
(THE FULL MONTY)

Starring
Kristin Scott Thomas, Sharon Horgan and Jason Flemyng

From the Director of The Full Monty comes the heartwarming film of a group of British Officers wives who form a choir to pass the time while their loved ones are fighting in Afghanistan. Based on a true story, Kristin Scott Thomas plays the role of Kate, a Colonel’s wife who is also coping with the recent loss of her son in a previous tour. Sharon Horgan (from TV’s Catastrophe) is Lisa, the wife of a recently promoted Sergeant-Major who is struggling with her increasingly rebellious teenage daughter and the newly added responsibility to create distractions for the women while their partners are abroad.

When a group of wives are spit-balling ideas for activities to complete while their loved ones are away, Lisa is initially reluctant when one of the women suggests a choir. Despite Lisa being charged with the organization of the group, Kate takes the lead and tries to implement a more conservative, hymn style choir. Wrestling back some of the control, Lisa gives in to the idea of a choir, but steers the women in a more contemporary direction stylistically. Little by little, the eclectic group find their groove, and in doing do, form some unbreakable bonds which get them through the most difficult of times.

Military Wives is a beautifully written film that takes us into a usually unseen aspect of military life. There is the perfect blend of comedy and heart-aching reality that these women face on a daily basis that draws you in and makes you feel every wave of emotion with them. Horgan and Scott Thomas are incredible as the contrasting leaders, but it’s the lesser known members of the cast that play a big role in creating the atmosphere of the film, particularly Gaby French who plays Jess, the softly spoken Welshwoman with an incredible gift of song.

It would be easy to dismiss Military Wives as your stock standard ‘chick flick’ but it’s much more than that. It’s a film that stays with you after the credits have finished rolling. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll be glad for the experience.

4.5 Stars

Moviedoc thanks Transmission Films for the opportunity to review this film.

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