Catrin Cole (Gemma Arteton) is drafted into working for the Ministry of Information's production of a crowd-pleasing morale booster based on the evacuation of Dunkirk based on an unfortunately fraudulent story about two sisters saving soldiers. Nevertheless, the ministry sanatise and film it. Catrin works on the script with Sam Claflin's sardonic screenwriter. Despite her marriage, a love triangle ensues.
Although that is the main focus of the film, the haphazard film shoot overshadows the couple, largely due to Bill Nighy's outstanding turn as an egotistical actor who refuses to accept his age. The part allows him to give a multifaceted performance; he acts out dramatic acting (some of the best meta-acting), gives comedic support with quizzical eye-brows and even tender moments. A less actor wouldn't give so much genuine heart to such a role.
Arteton is delightfully spunky in the lead as well, and there's something beautifully noble about her attempts to the often neglected target female audiences make sure the sisters don't have their roles diminished in the film within a film. Director Lone Scherfig deals with feminist issues and the propaganda elements with the exact volume needed without jumping on a soapbox. The only issue is that there's a disappointingly contrived piece of tension in the third act. It's a bitter pill that most won't want to swallow, but when you do digest it, it does somewhat cure the headache of predictable "oh-I-have-two-men-I-could-be-with" narratives in a subversive manner. Just remember all the charming characters and extended cameos from great British actors.
FOUR STARS. More focused than Hail Caeser.
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