Their Finest (2017) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A wartime screenwriter turns disputed reality into a sustaining story while confronting discrimination, grief, and the value of artistic work.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Woman Enters The War Office

Catrin is hired to write female dialogue for propaganda films but faces unequal pay and absent credit. Her interview with the twins gives her a morally dangerous opportunity.

Key Events

• Catrin Joins Propaganda Unit — Catrin is hired to write realistic dialogue for women in wartime propaganda films. Characters: Catrin Cole, Roger Swain Location: Ministry of Information, London
• Unequal Credit And Pay — Catrin's male colleagues seek her dialogue while denying her equal pay and writing credit. Characters: Catrin Cole, Roger Swain Location: Ministry of Information, London
• The Twins Tell Their Story — Catrin learns that the twins never reached Dunkirk but rescued soldiers from a returning tug. Characters: Catrin Cole Location: London interview room
• Catrin Changes The Facts — Catrin claims that the twins reached Dunkirk so the proposed film can proceed. Characters: Catrin Cole, Roger Swain Location: Ministry of Information, London

The Lie Becomes A Film

Catrin alters the twins' story, and Roger approves the project. Bombings and arguments force the writers to weigh factual accuracy against the emotional needs of propaganda.

Key Events

• The Film Receives Approval — Roger approves the film and seconds Catrin to the production company with extra pay. Characters: Catrin Cole, Roger Swain Location: Ministry of Information, London
• Bombs Interrupt The Writing — Nightly bombing surrounds heated arguments about truth, propaganda, and female characters. Characters: Catrin Cole, Tom Buckley, Phyl Moore Location: London production office
• Catrin Faces The Blitz — Catrin nearly dies in a blast and vomits after seeing a dead body. Characters: Catrin Cole, Phyl Moore Location: Bomb-damaged London street
• The Dunkirk Lie Is Exposed — Roger discovers the twins did not reach Dunkirk, but the writers defend the story's greater truth. Characters: Catrin Cole, Tom Buckley, Roger Swain Location: London production office
• Tom Protects Catrin — Tom claims the twins lied, shielding Catrin from the consequences of her invention. Characters: Catrin Cole, Tom Buckley, Roger Swain Location: London production office

Stories Under Pressure

The production receives an American role and moves to Devon. Catrin saves the filming when the pilot cannot act, while Tom begins to respect her talent.

Key Events

• An American Role Is Ordered — The Secretary of State requires a role for an American flying ace to support the film's United States release. Characters: Catrin Cole, Tom Buckley, Roger Swain Location: London production office
• Filming Moves To Devon — Production begins in Devon while the cast and writers adapt to the new location. Characters: Catrin Cole, Tom Buckley, Ambrose Hilliard / Uncle Frank, Phyl Moore Location: Film set, Devon
• The American Actor Fails — The American pilot proves unable to act, and Catrin's interventions save the production. Characters: Catrin Cole, Tom Buckley, Ambrose Hilliard / Uncle Frank Location: Film set, Devon
• Stories Give War Meaning — Tom explains that stories give people structure and closure when reality offers neither. Characters: Catrin Cole, Tom Buckley Location: Film set, Devon

Love Without Closure

Catrin reveals her secret arrangement to Phyl, and Tom proposes after learning about it. She refuses, then writes a fictional resolution to their unresolved quarrel.

Key Events

• Catrin Misses The Exhibition — Catrin stays with the production and misses the opening of the London exhibition. Characters: Catrin Cole, Phyl Moore Location: Film set, Devon
• Catrin Reveals Her Secret — Catrin tells Phyl that her supposed marriage is only a propriety arrangement. Characters: Catrin Cole, Phyl Moore Location: Film set, Devon
• Tom Makes His Proposal — Tom denounces Catrin's partner and proposes, but Catrin refuses and they argue. Characters: Catrin Cole, Tom Buckley Location: Film set, Devon
• Catrin Writes The Ending — Catrin writes a new ending and a mock script that gives their unresolved quarrel a meaningful resolution. Characters: Catrin Cole, Tom Buckley Location: Catrin's London home

The Cost Of The Ending

Tom dies in a studio accident just after reconciling with Catrin. Catrin completes the film, grieves, and ultimately returns to screenwriting after seeing its effect on audiences.

Key Events

• The Studio Loses Tom — Catrin and Tom reconcile, but a collapsing lighting rig crushes Tom to death. Characters: Catrin Cole, Tom Buckley, Ambrose Hilliard / Uncle Frank Location: Film studio
• The Missing Scene Is Solved — With male actors unavailable, Catrin gives one fictional twin the decisive rescue scene and withdraws from work. Characters: Catrin Cole, Ambrose Hilliard / Uncle Frank, Phyl Moore Location: Film studio
• Ambrose Encourages Catrin — Ambrose comforts Catrin, urges her to see the successful film, and encourages her creative contribution. Characters: Catrin Cole, Ambrose Hilliard / Uncle Frank Location: Catrin's home
• The Film Finds Its Audience — Catrin watches the hit film and is moved by the story and the audience's reaction. Characters: Catrin Cole, Ambrose Hilliard / Uncle Frank Location: Cinema
• Catrin Returns To Writing — Catrin returns to the writers' office and begins work on another picture. Characters: Catrin Cole, Ambrose Hilliard / Uncle Frank Location: Scriptwriters' office

Story Breakdown

• Catrin Enters Film — Catrin enters wartime propaganda filmmaking and immediately encounters institutional inequality.
  • Ministry Hiring — Roger hires Catrin to create realistic dialogue for female characters.
  • Unequal Recognition — Male colleagues use her contributions while denying equal pay and credit.
• The Dunkirk Invention — An inaccurate anecdote becomes the foundation of the production's central story.
  • Twin Interview — Catrin learns that the twins rescued soldiers but never reached Dunkirk.
  • A Strategic Lie — Catrin reports that the twins reached Dunkirk so the film can be approved.
• Truth Versus Propaganda — The writers debate whether emotional truth can justify factual invention.
  • Bombed Writing Room — Air raids intensify the pressure surrounding the script.
  • Tom Covers Catrin — Tom blames the twins and protects Catrin when the lie is discovered.
• Production Under Fire — The film survives practical obstacles and expands into an international propaganda project.
  • American Role — Political demands add a role for an American flying ace.
  • Devon Filming — Catrin rescues the production when the American pilot cannot act.
• Unfinished Romance — Catrin and Tom move from professional conflict toward attraction, but cannot resolve their relationship.
  • Growing Respect — Tom begins to value Catrin's work and discusses stories as emotional structure.
  • Rejected Proposal — Tom proposes, Catrin refuses, and their argument remains unresolved.
• A Fatal Studio Ending — The production's emotional cost becomes real when Tom dies just after reconciliation.
  • Final Script Fix — Catrin writes the ending and solves the missing rescue scene.
  • Lighting Rig Collapse — A falling lighting rig crushes Tom and devastates Catrin.
• Art After Grief — Catrin confronts grief, recognizes the audience's response, and returns to her profession.
  • Ambrose's Counsel — Ambrose comforts Catrin and urges her to see the finished film.
  • Return To Writing — The audience's response restores Catrin's belief in meaningful screenwriting.

Directed by

Lone Scherfig

Key Cast

• Gemma Arterton — Catrin Cole
• Sam Claflin — Tom Buckley
• Bill Nighy — Ambrose Hilliard / Uncle Frank
• Jack Huston — Ellis Cole
• Helen McCrory — Sophie Smith