As war rages on the Western Front, the Choral Society in Ramsden, Yorkshire has lost most of its men to the army. They must engage a new chorus master, and despite their suspicions, their best bet seems to be Dr. Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes) – driven, uncompromising, and recently returned from a career in Germany. As conscription papers start to arrive, the whole community discovers that the best response to the chaos is to make music together.