Their Finest (2016)

A former secretary, newly appointed as a scriptwriter for propaganda films, joins the cast and crew of a major production while the Blitz rages around them.

Director:

Lone Scherfig

Writers:

Lissa Evans (based on the novel "Their Finest Hour and a Half" by), Gaby Chiappe (screenplay by)

Stars:

Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sam Claflin	...	Tom Buckley
Gemma Arterton	...	Catrin Cole
Nicholas Murchie	...	Bus Conductor
Richard E. Grant	...	Roger Swain
Henry Goodman	...	Gabriel Baker
Rachael Stirling	...	Phyl Moore
Jack Huston	...	Ellis Cole
Bill Nighy	...	Ambrose Hilliard / Uncle Frank
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)

Storyline

During the London Blitz of World War II, Catrin Cole is recruited by the British Ministry of Information to write scripts for propaganda films that the public will actually watch without scoffing. In the line of her new duties, Cole investigates the story of two young women who supposedly piloted a boat in the Dunkirk Evacuation. Although it proved a complete misapprehension, the story becomes the basis for a fictional film with some possible appeal. As Cole labors to write the script with her new colleagues such as Tom Buckley, veteran actor Ambrose Hilliard must accept that his days as a leading man are over as he joins the project. Together, this disparate trio must struggle against such complications such as sexism against Cole, jealous relatives, and political interference in their artistic decisions even as London endures the bombs of the enemy. In the face of those challenges, they share a hope to contribute something meaningful in this time of war and in their own lives.

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Plot Keywords:

propaganda film | actor | london blitz | screenwriter | sexism | 

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Taglines:

In the fight for freedom everyone played a part

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | War

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Certificate:

14A

Did You Know?

Trivia

Catrin explains that the real life Starling twins were motivated by the movie to join the ATS but without giving details on what the ATS was. The ATS was the Auxiliary Territorial Service, which was composed of women performing non-combat military service, such as clerical work or telephone operators, that would free up men for combat roles. Queen Elizabeth II (when she was a Princess) and Winston Churchill's eldest daughter also served in the ATS.

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Goofs

One of the films shown has an "SMPTE Leader". In 1940, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers was still known as SMPE.

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Quotes

Phyl Moore: Are you a cinema goer?
Catrin Cole: Yes.
Phyl Moore: Then you'll be familiar with informationals. We sandwich them between the support and the main features so the public to be informed don't have time to escape.

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Connections

Referenced in KVIFF Guide: Episode #1.9 (2017)

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Soundtracks

Proud and Profane
Written by Ivor Slaney

User Reviews

Excellent funny film

This is a great wee movie. Full of me memorable moments from hilarity to wiping away a wee tear. Must see. Went to the UK premier at the GFT last Sunday (February 14 2017😂the performances, restrained and very understanding were superb. As usual, Bill Nighy played to his strengths and was, as usual, very funny. Newer faces were equally good in this almost ensemble cast. Go see this film. After watching terrible badly written movies such as Triple X 3 and John Wick 2, this carefully built film is a joy.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Germany]

Country:

UK Sweden France

Language:

English Hungarian Polish French

Release Date:

14 April 2017 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Une belle rencontre

Filming Locations:

Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK

Box Office

Budget:

EUR10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$76,197, 9 April 2017

Gross USA:

$3,603,484

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,597,262

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, Welsh Government, Pinewood Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1