Chorus of Military Spouses Highlights the Emotional Strength of Music and the Relieving Impact of Group Harmonies

In the heart of RMB Catterick, where the first Military Wives Choir was formed, a new film is set to inspire audiences. Directed by Peter Cattaneo, who won a BAFTA for "The Full Monty", and written by Rachel Tunnard and Rosanne Flynn, "Military Wives" is a feel-good crowd-pleaser inspired by true events.

The film tells the story of a group of women who form the first military wives choir while their partners serve in Afghanistan. With a focus on unity, camaraderie, and finding one's voice, it explores the humorous and sometimes harrowing personal stories of the real military wives.

To capture the essence of military life, the filmmakers went through hundreds of songs to choose the best tracks for the choir. They settled on 80s electro pop classics, which resonate with the story and create a humorous juxtaposition with the austerity of military life.

The Military Wives Choirs network plays a vital role in bringing women in the military community together. Known for their singing, these choirs help each other through some of life's most difficult moments and have become a media sensation in the process. For many women, knowing that there is a Military Wives Choir to join in a new location can be a real lifeline.

Each local Military Wives Choir has its own identity, but all are run in a very similar way with shared music, a fun and friendly ethos, and lots of 'cross-network' projects and activities. The network offers a sense of familiarity and continuity in the face of frequent moves and long periods of separation. It also provides a sense of community and support for women in the military community.

The film features Jason Flemyng as an officer overseeing life on the base, who acknowledges the pressure the wives are under when their partners go to war. In Germany, active Military Wives Choirs do exist, with the first German Military Wives Choir being founded in 2011.

"Military Wives" is based on the real-life Military Wives Choirs, which have become a global movement. With over 2,300 women with a military connection in 75 choirs across the UK and overseas, the network helps alleviate stress and improve isolation, anxiety, and depression among women in the military community.

Director Peter Cattaneo hopes audiences will laugh, cry, and feel inspired by the courage of the women in the film, and be uplifted by hearing them belt out classic songs. The film aims to showcase the power of the Military Wives Choirs network, which provides an outlet for women in the military community to express themselves and find their voice.