Their Finest (2017), directed by Lone Scherfig

London in 1940, blitz bombing is wreaking havoc on the city and the Information Ministry is keen to make films that will keep up spirits. With so many men in the forces opportunities open up for women and young secretary Catrin Cole finds herself in a scriptwriting job, although she can’t be paid as much as the chaps of course. She is recruited to add the woman’s touch to a propaganda film that must also aim to persuade the Americans to join the war. It is Gemma Arterton’s film and she is just right as the wide-eyed Catrin. The chemistry is there with Sam Claflin as cynical senior scriptwriter Buckley. A quite serious and moving story is punctuated with lighter moments throughout, largely supplied by Bill Nighy as a rather precious actor. A host of familiar faces feature in very strong supporting roles, particularly Rachael Stirling. It makes some nicely understated points about the role of women and the reality of life on the home front in a city under siege. The score is occasionally overdone, but the songs are lovely and the colour palette exquisitely depicts wartime London in this clever and appealing film within a film.