Ralph Fiennes' Emotional Post-WWI Drama Strikes a Powerful Chord in New Extended Look [Exclusive]

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Nicola Dove / © Sony Pictures Classics / courtesy Everett Collection

Published Feb 17, 2026, 12:01 PM EST

The Choral tells the story of those who stayed behind during World War I, fighting to keep the British Choral Society alive. Starring Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Henry Guthrie, the Nicholas Hytner-directed film is about community, the power of music, and one group's ability to overcome the pain of the war by joining together. Written by The History Boys playwright Alan Bennett, the movie is an emotional exploration of the power of music. And we have an exclusive clip from the film to celebrate its digital release!

Today, Collider is thrilled to bring you an extended sneak peek at the film. Our exclusive first look shows Mr. Fyton (Mark Addy), Mr. Trickett (Alun Armstrong), Bernard Duxbury (Roger Allam), and more, all talking about the future of their chorus. They lost their director and need a new one — their best option is Dr. Henry Guthrie. So Fyton and Duxbury go to where Guthrie is playing music to try to convince him to lead their chorus. The issue? Both Fyton and Duxbury think that Guthrie is "peculiar" and have to adjust what they think of him in order to keep their chorus alive. The scene reveals a sweet moment of these men connecting.

What fans can expect from the Fiennes-led film is an emotional look at community. While many of us know World War I and World War II from history lessons, we rarely get to see this side of the war, and it is beautiful to see how many coped. The Choral is described as follows: "As World War I rages on, Dr. Henry Guthrie takes over a British choral society that's lost most of its men to the army. The community soon discovers that the best response to the chaos of war is to make beautiful music together."

'The Choral' Spotlights the Power of Music

What makes The Choral such a beautiful watch is the film's showcase of the power of music, especially at such a dark time in history. During World War I, many of the men were sent away, and it left cultural mainstays like the British Choral Society by the wayside. But those in charge stepped up and tried their best to keep tradition alive, and that's what makes watching The Choral so emotional. Now, you can experience the magic that Fiennes and the cast of The Choral bring to the story at home.

You can watch The Choral now on digital, and it will also be available on DVD and Blu-ray on March 17. Watch our sneak peek above and stay tuned at Collider for more.