September 1940. As the bombs fall on London, a Cockney sparrow falls for a dashing Canadian soldier. After a whirlwind romance and hasty wedding, Lily (Friel) is shipped off to Alberta while Charlie (Young) stays to fight the Germans.
But instead of being welcomed by her in-laws, Lily receives a frosty reception from Charlie's widowed mother (Fricker) and sister (Parker).
British pluck meets Canadian reserve against a stark, remote backdrop, with only local hunk Joe (Dean) offering any crumbs of comfort.
Inspired by the experiences of screenwriter Angela Workman's mother, Lyndon Chubbock's film is a heartfelt, low-key tribute to the 48,000 war brides who emigrated to Canada during WW2.
The juxtaposition of the chirpy, tarty Friel and the repressed, embittered Fricker may feel a little obvious, but it does highlight a genuine culture clash that has largely been overlooked by both filmmakers and historians.
Less convincing is the way Lily's new relatives are steamrollered by this brash young interloper, who predictably brings a ray of sunshine into their humdrum lives of back-breaking toil.
The return of Charlie - shell-shocked, withdrawn, and a shadow of his former self - adds some eleventh hour tension, though not enough to dispel the nagging sense of déjà vu (caused in part by the striking similarities to Friel's earlier wartime flick, "The Land Girls").
Despite the vivacious Friel, one can't help thinking that this slender yarn will look a lot more at home once it emigrates to the small screen.
The War Bride (2002)
