Military Wives (film)

2019 British film by Peter Cattaneo

Military Wives

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Peter Cattaneo
Written by|

* Rachel Tunnard
* Rosanne Flynn

Produced by|

* Ben Pugh
* Piers Tempest
* Rory Aitken

Starring|

* Kristin Scott Thomas
* Sharon Horgan
* Jason Flemyng
* Greg Wise

Cinematography| Hubert Taczanowski
Edited by|

* Anne Sopel
* Lesley Walker

Music by| Lorne Balfe

Production
companies

* Ingenious Media
* Embankment Films
* 42
* Tempo Productions

Distributed by| Lionsgate

Release dates

* 6 September 2019 (2019-09-06) (TIFF)
* 6 March 2020 (2020-03-06) (United Kingdom)

Running time

| 112 minutes[1]
Country| United Kingdom
Language| English
Box office| $4.1 million[2]

Military Wives is a 2019 British comedy-drama[3] film directed by Peter Cattaneo and written by Rosanne Flynn and Rachel Tunnard. It stars Kristin Scott Thomas, Sharon Horgan and Jason Flemyng. The film is inspired by the true story of the Military Wives Choirs, a network of 75 choirs in British military bases across the United Kingdom and overseas, featured in the fourth season of the British documentary television series The Choir.

The film had its world premiere at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, and was released in the United Kingdom on 6 March 2020 by Lionsgate.

## Synopsis

[edit]

With their partners away serving in Afghanistan, a group of women on the home front form a choir and quickly find themselves at the centre of a media sensation and global movement.

## Cast

[edit]

* Kristin Scott Thomas as Kate
* Sharon Horgan as Lisa
* Jason Flemyng as Crooks
* Greg Wise as Richard
* Emma Lowndes as Annie
* Gaby French as Jess
* Lara Rossi as Ruby
* Amy James-Kelly as Sarah
* India Ria Amarteifio as Frankie
* Laura Checkley as Maz
* Sophie Dix as Beatrice
* Beverley Longhurst as Hilary
* Jack James Ryan as Private Shaw
* Karen Sampford as Choir Member
* Robbie Gee as Red

## Production

[edit]

In September 2018, it was announced Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan had joined the cast of the film, with Peter Cattaneo directing, from a screenplay by Rosanne Flynn and Rachel Tunnard, with Lionsgate distributing in the United Kingdom.[4]

## Release

[edit]

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 6 September 2019.[5] Shortly after, Bleecker Street acquired US distribution rights to the film.[6] It was released in the United Kingdom on 6 March 2020[7] and was scheduled to be released in the United States on 27 March.[8] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was rescheduled to 22 May 2020, where the film will be released on video on demand instead of a planned theatrical release.[9]

## Reception

[edit]

On the aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 77%, based on 122 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Like a favourite song you know by heart, Military Wives offers few surprises – but its pleasures are no less formidable by their familiarity."[10] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 55 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[11]

The Guardian called it a "crowd-pleasing comedy-drama" that "hits all the right notes".[12] Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair praised the performances of Scott Thomas and Horgan, writing "Scott Thomas sells the film, and the sorrow at its heart, way better than everything else around her", but noted the film feels "hurried and thin".[13]

## Adaptation

[edit]

It was announced on 24 February 2025 that Military Wives would be adapted for the stage as a jukebox musical.[14] The show will play a limited season at The York Theatre Royal with previews beginning 10 September 2025 before an official opening on the 16 of the same month followed by closure on 27 September.[15] The show is being produced by The York Theatre Royal in associated with The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham and The Buxton Opera House.[16][17] The creator of the Nativity! franchise, Debbie Isitt has written the script and will direct and the show will feature musical arrangements by her Nativity! The Musical collaborator George Dyer.[18]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Military Wives". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
2. ^ "Military Wives (2020)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
3. ^ Kenny, Glenn (21 May 2020). "'Military Wives' Review: Unlikely Choir, Familiar Frictions". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
4. ^ Clarke, Stewart (5 September 2018). "Kristin Scott Thomas, Sharon Horgan Enlist for 'Military Wives' From 'Full Monty' Director Peter Cattaneo". Variety. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
5. ^ Lang, Brent (23 July 2019). "Toronto Film Festival: 'Joker,' 'Ford v Ferrari,' 'Hustlers' Among Big Premieres". Variety. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
6. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (9 September 2019). "Bleecker Street Wins Toronto Title 'Military Wives' Directed By Peter Cattaneo". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
7. ^ ""Military Wives" Is Coming to VOD in the UK". womenandhollywood.com. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
8. ^ Hipes, Patrick (25 October 2019). "Harvey Weinstein-Inspired 'The Assistant' Acquired By Bleecker Street, Will Hit Theaters In January". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
9. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (28 April 2020). "'Military Wives': Bleecker Street Movie Marches Into Homes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
10. ^ "Military Wives (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
11. ^ "Military Wives Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
12. ^ "Military Wives review – on song with chalk-and-cheese Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan". The Guardian. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
13. ^ Lawson, Richard (19 May 2020). "Military Wives Is Not the Feel-Good British Fix You're Looking For". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
14. ^ Gans, Andrew (24 February 2025). "Military Wives Musical Sets Fall World Premiere".
15. ^ "Military Wives musical to have world premiere". 24 February 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
16. ^ "York Theatre Royal announces world premiere of Debbie Isitt's MILITARY WIVES - THE MUSICAL". West End Best Friend. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
17. ^ Wild, Stephi. "Debbie Isitt's MILITARY WIVES - The Musical Comes to the York Theatre Royal". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
18. ^ "Military Wives the Musical to premiere at York Theatre Royal". The Stage. Retrieved 25 February 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Military Wives at IMDb
* Military Wives at Rotten Tomatoes

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Peter Cattaneo

* Dear Rosie (1990)
* The Full Monty (1997)
* Lucky Break (2001)
* Opal Dream (2006)
* The Rocker (2008)
* Military Wives (2019)
* The Penguin Lessons (2024)

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