When Gareth Malone created his Military Wives choir, the effects had to be far more lasting and deeper than the resulting wave of glory.
The ensemble was formed in 2011 as part of the BBC Two series The Choir, directed by Malone.
The documentary followed their transformation from an anonymous group of military wives into harmonious top hats performing for the Queen.
In addition to showing the therapeutic value of community song, Malone’s efforts gave insight into the life of the military wife – especially the months of loneliness and the need to keep “a stiff upper lip”, despite the fact that be worried when their partners were absent.
These are women who are barely seen, let alone heard, but Malone has given them a public face and voice.
Malone’s wife choir from Chivenor military base in Devon – later joined by those from Plymouth – was not, in fact, the first. The credit goes to the women of Catterick’s garrison in North Yorkshire, who were established on their own. They sparked an idea for Malone that became the television documentary.
Today, there are 75 choirs, comprising 2,300 women, spread around the world, supported by the charity Military Wives Choirs, most of which are members.
The story of these stoic women also inspired a film directed by Peter Cattaneo of The Full Monty’s, with Sharon Horgan of Catastrophe and the film and theater star Dame Kristen Scott Thomas.
The film is freely inspired by Catterick’s story with elements from the original Malone choir.
And Malone, although little involved in production, acted as a history consultant.
Cattaneo says he wanted to “explore a lifestyle that has rarely been seen on the big screen, as well as make a film with music and song.”
“As I started to meet real military women, rich themes quickly arose: a fragmented group of people finding unity and camaraderie through song: women who should” keep quiet and keep on “finding their voice, “he adds.
Horgan plays Lisa, the dull, slightly bored, mother of a rebellious teenager.
When the Catastrophe actress first read the script, she cried.
“It moved me but it also feels good,” she says of the film, which features 80s pop songs like Tears For Fears, Cyndi Lauper, Yazoo and Human League.
“It’s great to see these women come together and see a good thing happen despite the really difficult situation they find themselves in,” said Horgan.
“And a film that has a female cast that doesn’t talk about love or broken hearts but something bigger is very presently felt. The women who come together to help each other are sort of what we need to do to the moment because if we are not careful, no one else will. “
There is also a social message about the value of community that can be extrapolated from women’s group activity, says Horgan.
“Everyone becomes introverted in their way of life. Life is very hard and we all have a lot to do, but if you look a little further, it can become a really positive thing.”
The character of Horgan, Lisa, and Kate of Scott Thomas, have very different approaches to what constitutes activities that boost women’s morale.
Lisa is like, “Let’s get smashed and eat junk food” – “not far from what I normally play,” says Horgan.
The thoughts of the colonel’s wife, Kate, turn more to organized and stimulating activities. And although she herself seems so controlled, in private, Kate has acquired a habit of compulsive buying channel, in order to calm the grief of her deceased son.
When a choir is finally suggested, they slowly develop a difficult partnership as the idea develops, with a glorious result that none of the women predicted.
During the filming, the fiction met reality for the cast and the team.
They created many scenes in real garrisons, including Catterick, and spent time with the women – some of whom were used as background characters.
“It was incredibly revealing,” says Horgan. “We were hanging out in their homes with these mothers and women and we saw this completely different perspective.
“But they weren’t moaning about it. They were optimistic, just people” do it “.”
As for the song, she claims that the actors have adopted the same “organic” approach as real military women.
“The director didn’t want it to sound smooth – although it was not afraid – but that it would come together over time. There was no practice or stress, just, ‘Let’s see what’s going on’ . “
Critics have released their verdict after the film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.
“Think of Calendar Girls with less nudity and more harmonization … Military Wives is a film that is hard to resist, like a song that you will hum even if you forget the song right after,” said The Guardian.
Indiewire added that it made “the base feel like a purgatory without making things too unpleasant”.
“The joy found in military women comes less from self-discovery than friendship, because these women learn how much stronger they are together.”
But behind this piece of celluloid hide real women. They, more than anyone, have the right to a point of view.
For Sharon (surname omitted) from Chivenor, who was in Malone’s choir, the film aroused difficult feelings.
“It brought me back there and that knot in my stomach, watching your husband go away, even when there is no conflict, it’s difficult. Just operate, continue and take care of it, “she said.
But she also remembers how the choir “brought me friendship and a bond with people like me”.
“When they came to film, they said” enjoy the ride, don’t ask too many questions “. But I always find what happened rather surreal. We had the responsibility of representing all the military women. But join the choir was the best thing I ever did. “
Jo from the Catterick Military Women Choir, known as Wags (Wives, Affiliates, Girlfriends and Servicewomen), is “very, very proud” of the group’s legacy.
“It’s such a simple idea and yet it gives so much support during the week – just drop it and come sing,” she says.
“Sometimes people go through the net and somehow fall if there is no one there for them.
“But when we find a new lady, we say, ‘come and have fun’. They may think they can’t, but find the opposite.”
As for Horgan, she concludes that having had a window on the lives of women, she “made me appreciate what I have”.
“It makes you think: there are people out there who are ignored for a moment, who are really struggling. I really left feeling grateful for my life.”
Military Wives will hit theaters on March 6.
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