Film Snail

6.7

Their Finest

R·2017·117m

Romance

War

Drama

Romance

War

Drama

Summary

During the Blitz of World War II, a female screenwriter works on a film celebrating England's resilience as a way to buoy a weary populace's spirits. Her efforts to dramatise the true story of two sisters who undertook their own maritime mission to rescue wounded soldiers are met with mixed feelings by a dismissive all-male staff.

Cast

Gemma Arterton

Catrin Cole

Sam Claflin

Tom Buckley

Bill Nighy

Ambrose Hilliard / Uncle Frank

Jack Huston

Ellis Cole

Helen McCrory

Sophie Smith

Eddie Marsan

Sammy Smith

Jake Lacy

Carl Lundbeck / Brannigan

Rachael Stirling

Phyl Moore

Henry Goodman

Gabriel Baker

Paul Ritter

Raymond Parfitt

Richard E. Grant

Roger Swain

Nicholas Murchie

Bus Conductor

Amanda Root

Cecy/Mrs Brown (Careless Talk Film)

Patrick Gibson

Rex, the Clapper Loader

Darren Clarke

The Gaffer

Ed Birch

Walter, the Director (Careless Talk Film)

Lissa Evans

Make-up Woman (Careless Talk Film)

Richard Bevan

Mr Richards (Dubbing Editor)

Gaby Chiappe

Dolly (Carrot Film)

Amanda Fairbank-Hynes

Mabel (Carrot Film)

Francesca Knight

Lily Starling

Bella Ava Georgiou

Pearl (Girl on the Tube)

Alfie Stewart

Soldier on the Tube

Mossie Smith

Female Warden

Jay Simpson

Alf Reynolds

Frances Jeater

Spitfires Collector

Claudia Jessie

Doris Cleavley / Lily

Stephanie Hyam

Angela Ralli-Thomas / Rose

Richard Syms

Head Waiter

Natalia Ryumina

Muriel (Ellis's Friend)

Rebecca Saire

Mortuary Nurse

Jeremy Irons

Secretary of War

Miles Richardson

Movietone Newsreader

Gordon Brown

Chick, the 1st AD

Julia Lewis

The Make-Up Artist

Liliana Gane

The Wardrobe Mistress

Hubert Burton

Wyndham Best / Johnnie (the Hero)

Michael Marcus

Alex, the Director

Stephen Boswell

War Widows Collector

Feline Allentoft

Wyndham Best's Girlfriend

Ellie Haddington

Catrin's Landlady

Florence Woolley

Corona Cinema Usherette

Joanna Brookes

Woman in Corona

Patrick Osborne

Soldier in Corona

Cathy Murphy

Vee (uncredited)

Emma Cunniffe

Ettie (uncredited)

Clive Russell

Mr. Starling (uncredited)

Letty Butler

First Waitress (uncredited)

Nell Barlow

Second Waitress (uncredited)

Steve Carroll

Boom Operator (uncredited)

Katie Jackson

Secretary to Mr. Swain (uncredited)

Lee Whitlock

Man in Pub (uncredited)

Lily Knight

Rose Starling

Crew

Director

Lone Scherfig

Novel

Lissa Evans

Screenplay

Gaby Chiappe

Reviews

Rangan

September 26, 2017

**The war and the cinema!**

The film was based on the book and about filmmaking, particularly screen writing. Fictional comedy-drama that is set in London in 1940. While the war tearing apart the nation, some people are not disturbed by it. They are going ahead with their film projects, especially war themed to boost the people's confidence. That's when the new arrival, Mrs. Cole, begins her career as a writer. So her experience working with the scripts, meeting the real people whose story are getting adapted and her gloomy romance, everything lets us know.

A nice film and a little different than the majority of the film that came this year. The focus was good. I mean while bombs falling from the sky, all this tale concentrated was film business. Something like 'Argo', but given less preference to the war, except its consequences which diverted their plan in some scenario. So there were many small-small twist and turns. It also gets emotional at one stage. A well written and directed film similar to what the film characters did their best in the story.

Gemma was good, but Claflin was totally different, in a good way. As much as I enjoyed, I also thought it should have been even better. Because thematically it was not for everyone. I mean the world war was a good idea, but the filmmaking was not like you are usually familiar with. Besides, it was not a laughing out loud comedy. Between the seriousness of war and fun around making films, the combination was rare and well worked out. Those who love pre 50s, 40s settings in a film would enjoy it for sure. Especially if they like films about films.

_6/10_