Their Finest is a female driven story about a World War II script writer. Gemma Arterton plays copywriter Catrin Cole, who lands a job writing women’s dialogue for war films at a British ministry.
Set in London during the Blitz, the sexism is rampant. How much it may have changed since then is open for debate. Catrin gets advice from her co-worker Tom (Sam Claflin), “Girls don’t want to be the hero. They want to be had by the hero.”
Since Catrin is the protagonist in this story, you might guess that she has different ideas about the role of women in film making and in real life.
Bill Nighy plays an actor with the ever-so-British name Ambrose Hilliard. He’s an older actor who hasn’t yet realized he can no longer play the romantic leading man. Jack Huston plays Catrin’s husband.
The film is listed as both a comedy and a drama. Snarky satire about the propaganda efforts of the British as well as plenty of feminist criticism make up the comedy.
Danish-born Lone Scherfig directed. The screenplay was written by Gaby Chiappe, based on the novel by Lissa Evans. Many more women held key roles behind the scenes in the production of Their Finest. If you want to support women film makers, as I do, this is a good flick to see.
Their Finest was released on April 7. Check to see if it’s available in your area.
NOT TO BE MISSED! Thank you for this, Virginia!