If you are looking for a movie that is light-hearted and funny but simultaneously explores feminism and analyses the story-telling capacity of film, this is the one for you. A novice writer, Catrin Cole (Gemma Arterton), lands a job as a scriptwriter for a propaganda movie, made to inspire the English public during World War II, and in the process unwittingly makes a small but significant contribution to the feminist movement.
Catrin's talent for dialogue is first noticed by lead writer Buckley (Sam Clafin), and together they navigate the highs and lows of writing a feature film; the first challenge involves identifying a believable and inspiring storyline. Catrin finds it in the evacuation of Dunkirk, not exactly a historical victory, and determinedly manages to make the role two sisters play in aiding the soldier's evacuation the focus of the film. Bill Nighy provides the movie's comic edge as Ambrose Hilliard, a proud, ageing movie star hired to play a minor role in the movie.
A key issue the movie explores is the portrayal and promotion of women in film - somewhat ironically still an issue today. Caty is able to make her voice heard and is influential in the making of the movie, but she is only able to gain that position with the help of Buckley and Ambrose, and a series of (un?)fortunate accidents. This is a point brought up at multiple points during the movie; the lead character's relationships with her male co-workers are essential to her gaining a position of power. A quote that resonates is "a lot of men are afraid we won't go back into our boxes when this is all over; it makes them belligerent." One wonders how far Caty would have gotten if she wasn't attractive and the romantic interest of her influential writer co-star.
Their Finest is a movie about a movie; it pokes fun at the formulaic nature of movie plots, demonstrates their ethically questionable capacity to rewrite history, and highlights their ability to incite passion and anger in an audience. In a time where alternative truths can gain more traction that the actual truth, we need more reminders of the power of media and this film pointedly does just that. It also mocks the classical romantic story line, and almost predictably departs from it, which was slightly disappointing (but appropriate).
Director Lone Scherfig does an excellent job marrying scenes of World War II destruction with the alternate world of making a propaganda film and he does so with comedic aplomb that provides many laugh-out-loud moments. Their Finest is strangely superficial at times, especially towards the end, perhaps to portray Caty's confusion and inability to fully synthesize the events occurring around her. Despite this, the film fulfils all its self-professed criteria for a fantastic feature film- a good plot, a tragic hero, comedic relief.. and a dog.
Their Finest opens in Australian cinemas on Thursday April 20th.
