A film that was described as “very British”, depicting another angle of the second world war, is leaving BBC iPlayer in no more than a few days.
During the London Blitz of 1940, a screenwriter, Catrin, and a makeshift cast and crew work together to make a film to boost national morale and inspire America to join the war.
Their Finest (2016) sees a young woman, Catrin Cole (Gemma Arterton) get hired to write scripts for propaganda films by the Ministry of Information.
She works alongside a fellow screenwriter and an actor to create a movie that will boost national morale and inspire America to join the war – all amidst the conflictual climate of the London Blitz and the aftermath of the Dunkirk evacuation. Catrin and her team face multiple challenges along the way, including the ongoing bombings.
She then collaborates with fellow screenwriter Buckley (Sam Claflin) and eccentric actor Ambrose Hilliard (Bill Nighy), while finding her voice, exploring the power of storytelling, and navigating the complexities of war.
While fictional, the movie draws inspiration from the real-life efforts of the British film industry to support the war effort. On film reviewing platform Rotten Tomatoes – where the film got a shiny 91% fresh score – fans praise that touch of reality as one of the film’s strongest points.
“Nearly faultless. Great cast, perfectly directed. A perfect combination of the richest subject in history (WW2), great script, a warm romance, tragedy and poignancy”, one wrote.
While focusing on the characters’ mission, Their Finest also blends in storylines of romance, self-discovery, loss and grief.
“A delight from start to finish, except for the part where the film rips your heart out”, said another reviewer, while another commented: “A very English movie and incredibly well done”.
“Tremendous cast and performances supporting an excellent story and script. Both heart wrenching and uplifting. Add to your watch list”.
Alongside stars Arterton, Claflin and Nighy, Jeremy Irons, Jack Huston, Helen McCrory, Eddie Marsan and Jake Lacy round out the cast.
Their Finest is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer, but is leaving the platform on June 7.