It’s 1939 in the North of England, with war just declared on Germany. Housewife Nella Last (Wood) has only recently recovered from a breakdown brought on by anxiety. Her husband Will (Threlfall) is rigid and anti-social, which hardly helps. Nella takes solace in her two grown sons, Arthur (Crompton) and the sensitive Cliff (Harper). Though the war takes her boys away, it also brings unexpected opportunities. First Nella keeps a diary which she sends to the Mass Observation Project, an organization tracking the effect of the war on ordinary Britons. She also becomes an indispensable member of the Women’s Voluntary Service, led by Mrs. Waite (Cole). Could Nella be finally coming into her own?

This fact-based story based on Nella Last’s real diaries offers a vivid recounting of what the war was like for the British, who felt the brunt of the Nazi bombs but still maintained a spirit of defiance. Amidst all this, we witness a repressed, lonely woman gradually come out of  her shell, as the war provides a new sense of purpose. Director Millar and team unerringly evoke the period, and the whole cast excels, with Cole especially memorable as the exacting but kind-hearted Mrs. Waite. In particular, it’s a triumph for Wood, who not only stars but also penned the teleplay. Don’t miss this tale of wartime, told through an achingly human lens.