RALPH Fiennes, who must be one of the world’s hardest working actors on stage and screen, stars in the most-requested Moviola film in March – The Choral.

Co-produced and directed by Nicholas Hytner, the film is written by Alan Bennett. Set in 1916, during World War I, in the fictional town of Ramsden, Yorkshire, it follows the members of the local choral society which recruits a disparate group of townspeople for a performance of Edward Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, a work chosen because it was not written by a German.

Ralph Fiennes plays the choir master, Dr Henry Guthrie, who is brought in when the society’s regular conductor is called up. The cast also includes Roger Allam, Mark Addy and Alun Armstrong with Simon Russell Beale as Elgar.

The Choral is being shown at Hawkchurch, Yetminster (Jubilee Hall), Fawley (Jubilee Hall), Beaminster (Public Hall), Shrewton, Chilthorne Domer, Kilmington (Devon, community cinema), Donhead St Mary, Nether Wallop, Trent, Watchet (community cinema), Horton (near Ilminster), Cheddon & West Monkton, Ditcheat (Jubilee Hall), Frogham, South Petherton (David Hall), Netherbury, Castle Cary (Caryford Hall), East Knoyle, East Stour, Bishopstone (near Salisbury) and Martock.

Dates and venues for all Moviola films in this region in March are in the Arts Diary. For more information on the films and times, visit moviola.org

The month’s other films are:
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale at Winterslow
The Roses at Kingsbury Episcopi, Churchinford, Winsford, Bransgore, Charlton Marshall, Pewsey (Bouverie Hall), Chard (Guildhall), Harnham and Edington (Somerset);
I Swear at Royal Wootton Bassett (RWB Academy) and West Camel (Davis Hall);
Nuremberg at South Petherton (David Hall) and Westbury sub Mendip;
F1: The Movie at Codford St Peter (Woolstore Theatre) and Mere (Lecture Hall);
The Salt Path at Odcomnbe;
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere at Halstock.