Kristin Scott Thomas
Kate
Military Wives
“Inspired By The Incredible True Story Of The Military Wives Choirs”
2020
1h 53m
Director: Peter Cattaneo
Overview
Inspired by global phenomenon of military wives choirs, the story celebrates a band of misfit women who form a choir on a military base. As unexpected bonds of friendship flourish, music and laughter transform their lives, helping each other to overcome their fears for loved ones in combat.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
6 min readThe Choir That Sang Back the Light
I’ve seen this movie before. Not Military Wives specifically—though I’ve seen that too, in the way we’ve all seen variations on the underdog ensemble finding redemption through performance. The Full Monty did it with steelworkers and stripteases, Pitch Perfect with college a cappella, Calendar Girls with nudity and tea cakes. The formula is as reliable as a three-act screenplay: take a group of misfits, give them a skill they don’t think they have, add a dash of humiliation, a pinch of triumph, and serve with a side of uplift.
Peter Cattaneo, who directed The Full Monty, knows this recipe by heart. And yet, here’s the thing: sometimes the familiar is exactly what you need.
What saves Military Wives from feeling like reheated comfort food isn’t innovation—it’s the quiet, stubborn specificity of its setting. This isn’t just any choir. It’s a choir of women whose husbands, partners, sons, and brothers are deployed in Afghanistan, their lives suspended in the limbo of waiting for a knock at the door.
The film opens on a military base in Yorkshire, where the wives and girlfriends of soldiers move through their days like ghosts in a holding pattern. They drink too much at the pub, snap at each other over petty slights, and carry the kind of exhaustion that isn’t just physical but existential. The camera lingers on their hands—fidgeting with wedding rings, gripping pint glasses too tightly—as if to say: *Look.
This is what fear looks like when it’s dressed in civvies.*
The choir begins as a lark, a way to kill time while the men are away. Kate (Kristin Scott Thomas), the colonel’s wife, is all stiff upper lip and repressed grief—her son died in combat, though no one dares mention it. Lisa (Sharon Horgan), the brash, foul-mouthed organizer, is the kind of woman who calls a spade a spade and then some.
Their first rehearsal is a disaster: voices clash, tempers flare, and the piano player (a gloriously deadpan Laura Checkley) looks like she’d rather be anywhere else. But then something shifts. Not in a grand, cinematic moment—no swelling music, no sudden epiphany—but in the way a single, off-key note from one of the women seems to unlock something in the others.
They’re not good. Not yet. But they’re trying, and that’s enough.
Cattaneo has always been a director of small, human gestures, and Military Wives is no exception. The film’s best scenes are the ones where nothing much happens: a shared cigarette in the rain, a silent drive home after bad news, the way Kate’s hands tremble when she pours tea. There’s a moment midway through where the women perform at a local fete, their voices shaky but determined.
Audience Opinions
Audience 5.9/10
"A heartfelt but uneven dramedy that shines in its emotional moments but struggles with tonal consistency."
The film’s focus on the bonds formed by military wives through a choir resonates with many, offering genuine warmth and humor. However, some find the mix of comedy and drama jarring, with the lighter moments undercutting the more serious themes. latestnetflix.com's view is that the performances, particularly by Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan, are widely praised for adding depth to the story.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performances Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan deliver compelling performances that anchor the film’s emotional core.
- Heartfelt storytelling The premise of military wives forming a choir to cope with their struggles is touching and relatable for many viewers.
- Emotional resonance Scenes depicting camaraderie and shared grief among the women strike a chord with audiences.
- Moments of humor The film’s lighter, comedic moments provide welcome relief and balance the heavier themes.
Common complaints
- Tonal inconsistency The shift between comedy and drama feels uneven, leaving some viewers unsure of the film’s intended tone.
- Predictable plot The story follows familiar beats, with few surprises for those accustomed to feel-good dramas.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting characters often feel one-dimensional, lacking the depth of the leads.
- Slow pacing Some viewers find the film’s pacing sluggish, particularly in the first half.
Recommended for
Fans of emotional dramas Kristin Scott Thomas admirers Stories about female friendship Lighthearted dramedy lovers Choir and music enthusiasts
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsThe Real Story Behind Military Wives: How a Choir Inspired a Heartwarming Comedy-Drama
Military Wives (2020) isn’t just another feel-good film about singing—it’s a project born from real-life resilience. Directed by Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty), the movie stars Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan as two women who form an unlikely bond while their partners are deployed. But how much of the story is true? latestnetflix.com's view is that and what went on behind the scenes to bring this uplifting tale to life?
The True Story That Inspired the Film
The movie draws inspiration from the real-life Military Wives Choir, a network of singing groups formed by women with loved ones in the armed forces. In interviews, Kristin Scott Thomas revealed that the film’s premise was rooted in the experiences of these women, who found solace and strength in music during difficult times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M1hKR-7xlY
"It’s based on a true story, but it’s not a documentary," Scott Thomas explained in a #StayHome interview . "The idea came from the Military Wives Choir, which was set up to help women cope with the stress of having their husbands away. It’s about community, friendship, and the power of singing together."
The film’s emotional core mirrors the real choir’s mission: to combat loneliness and isolation through music. While the characters and plot are fictionalized, the spirit of the story remains authentic .
Behind the Scenes: Casting and Chemistry
Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan lead the cast as Kate, a disciplined colonel’s wife, and Lisa, a more free-spirited newcomer. Their dynamic drives the film, but their off-screen chemistry was just as crucial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XscSgVRS0UY
In an interview with hmv.com, the trio—Scott Thomas, Horgan, and director Peter Cattaneo—discussed the challenges of balancing humor and heartbreak . "We wanted it to be funny but also deeply moving," Cattaneo said, emphasizing the film’s tonal tightrope.
Horgan, known for her sharp wit (Catastrophe, Pulling), brought a grounded, relatable energy to Lisa, while Scott Thomas delivered a nuanced performance as Kate, a woman struggling with grief and control. The supporting cast, including Amy James-Kelly and Lara Rossi, added depth to the ensemble, portraying the diverse experiences of military spouses 
.
From Script to Screen: Peter Cattaneo’s Vision
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTx5SF0nM4Y
Director Peter Cattaneo, best known for The Full Monty, was drawn to Military Wives for its blend of humor and emotional weight. In a separate interview, he revealed that the film’s tone was inspired by the real-life resilience of military families .
"I wanted to capture the camaraderie and humor that comes from shared struggle," Cattaneo said. "These women aren’t just waiting around—they’re finding ways to support each other, even when life is tough."
The film’s 112-minute runtime balances comedy and drama, with the choir’s performances serving as a metaphor for unity . While some critics noted its familiar underdog-story structure, audiences appreciated its heartfelt approach to a rarely explored topic.
Reception and Real-Life Impact
Military Wives premiered to mixed but generally warm reviews. Rotten Tomatoes lists it with a cast including Scott Thomas, Horgan, and Jason Flemyng, though no aggregate score is provided in the available evidence . The film’s French title, The Singing Club, reflects its international appeal, with a rating of 5.9/10 based on 512 votes on SensCritique .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rmBOk_b4m8
Beyond the screen, the movie sparked conversations about the real Military Wives Choir. At the film’s premiere, actual military spouses shared their stories, reinforcing the project’s authenticity . For many, the film wasn’t just entertainment—it was a tribute to the strength of women in the armed forces community.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
Similar Movies
Related titles ranked by rating and popularity.
