“You need something to do“ - that was already the motto of Peter Cattaneo‘s THE FULL MONTY, where a handful of unemployed steel workers discovered their passion for stripping. It has become the slogan of countless social comedies since then and also pertains to the women in MRS. TAYLOR'S SINGING CLUB. They are the mothers and wives of soldiers at war, left behind in a man-made town without knowing if they will ever see their partners again after they left the house with their backpacks early in the morning. The only way not to go mad in the coming weeks is to keep busy. Kate Taylor (Kristin Scott Thomas) knows this all too well. She lost her son at war and her husband is headed to the front in Afghanistan, like many others. That‘s why the ambitious officer‘s wife makes the decision to start a choir with other women who have been left behind. Kate is the leader, of course. However, she isn‘t much of a people person and is reliant on Lisa‘s (Sharon Horgan) help, who has very different pedagogical ideas. The two women butt heads, but the choir has potential and in a few weeks they are meant to perform at a veteran‘s event at London‘s Royal Albert Hall. Ever step until then is predictable and the finale goes as expected. Yet Catteneo, who is mostly referencing himself along with some charming pop culture references, usually finds the right tone. The characters are stereotypical, the pathos rules, but the true story of a women‘s choir that even landed a number one hit is still touching and told in a lively way with a superb cast.

Lars Tunçay

Translation: Elinor Lewy