TIFF 2025 Review: The Choral – “There is a profoundness and uniqueness to the visuals.”

In the midst of World War I, a controversy ensues as the new chorus master chosen by the Choral Society in Ramsden, Yorkshire admires how Germany celebrates and encourages the arts.

As World War I wages on, it has become almost a daily job for one of the youths of Ramsden to give death notifications to the various families with loved ones fighting on the Western Front.  Struggling to put together its annual performance is the Choral Society, which has its chorus master leave to join the British forces fighting in Europe.  Hired as a replacement is Dr. Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes) returned from his time spent in Germany, a country he believes has a better appreciation of the arts than Britain.

A dramatic opening shot features distant figures appearing on the horizon of a field that at first appears to be a battlefield, but in fact is a pheasant hunt taking place.  The other poignant visual is of three friends sticking their heads out of a train as they head off to war.  The departure is made even more bittersweet as the shot occurs after the performance of the Choral Society emphasizing the horrors that await them.  This is where the storytelling is at its best, as there is a profoundness and uniqueness to the visuals.

Unfortunately, clichés are not lacking, which makes the narrative feel formulaic and stereotypical.  The standout characters are the pianist and the soldier returned from the war, as they both come across as individuals emotionally torn, which makes them more than one-note wonders.  The description of No Man’s Land as the earthly equivalent of Purgatory is appropriate considering the subject matter.  The trouble is that there is not enough screentime to flesh out the big cast, which means that certain subplots, like the alderman and his wife suffering from the death of their son, fail to emotionally resonate.

The 50th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 4-14, 2025, and for more information visit tiff.net.    

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.