“God Save the King” has never been the loveliest or most melodic of national anthems, and its somewhat chiding, aggressive tenor is brought to the fore early in “ The Choral .” Upon delivery of some good news from the front in the grim midst of the First World War, an English village choir’s lusty, spontaneous rendition of the song disrupts their rather shabbier rehearsal of Edward Elgar’s complex, haunting oratorio “The Dream of Gerontius,” prompting refined choirmaster Dr. Henry Guthrie ( Ralph Fiennes ) to roll his eyes to the back of his head. “If only you sang Elgar with the confidence you sing the national anthem,” he mutters. Art counts for a lot more than patriotism to Guthrie, and the happy surprise of Nicholas Hytner ‘s film — despite its twee, veddy English trappings — is

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