The Choral (Review)

Watching The Choral, I was genuinely interested in how the film would weave music and history together. The setting during World War One, with the community of singers at a vocal arts school facing the looming threat of enlistment, has such potential for emotional depth. However, I found myself struggling to stay engaged as the story unfolded rather slowly, and the characters’ arcs didn’t feel fully developed. One aspect that stood out was the tension created by the imminent departure of several male singers to war. This created a natural drama around the urgency of their last performance and the personal relationships involved. Yet, the narrative seemed to lack a satisfying resolution, leaving many plot threads hanging. For example, the mysterious return of a soldier previously missing in action was intriguing but wasn’t explored enough to evoke the emotional payoff I was hoping for. Additionally, the portrayal of class barriers and disagreements over the performance choices added some complexity, but the film didn’t dive deeply enough to make these conflicts truly compelling. The romantic subplot, described as a 'weird love story,' felt underdeveloped and left me uncertain about the characters’ motivations or outcomes. A point of concern for me was the quality of the accents. Many felt forced and inconsistent, detracting from the immersive experience the film aimed to create. Accents can greatly affect the authenticity of period films, so this was a missed opportunity in my view. Despite these criticisms, The Choral offers moments where the power of music and the camaraderie among performers shine through. If you enjoy historical dramas with a musical element and don’t mind a slower pace, this film might still find its audience. For me, though, it was a challenging watch that required patience and a willingness to overlook some storytelling flaws.