Their Finest

“Their Finest” is a film about life in wartime England and how the country’s Ministry of War sought to produce a  film for its audiences at home and overseas in order to draw reluctant allies into World War II. Beautifully acted by Gemma Arterton and Sam Clafin and ably supported by the ever loveable Bill Nighy, the film was adapted for the screen by Gabby Chiappe from the novel by Lissa Evans. Nicely directed by Lone Scherfig (“An Education”, “Italian for Beginners”),  the production values in the film are modest to say the least but nevertheless portray the efforts of the filmmakers within the film to achieve their propaganda goal and in the course of it, bring humor and sadness in unique combination as the umbrella of the blitz looms over every scene and occurrence. This is not a great film by any means but it does communicate the British grit as Londoners seek to persevere and survive a difficult time in the mid 1940’s and beyond. I give the film 3 stars with special recognition to Ms. Arterton and Mr Nighy who, each in his and her own way, gave it “their finest”.