for person of a certain age and w. w. ii be the defining time of their life and and whatever follow could never compare . a the movie open and a recently widow but still lively woman ( judi dench ) hear a street musician gamely attempt to play the classic song and stardust . this recall her memory of when she play in an almost all girl band that entertain between bomb raid during the war . the drummer and patrick ( ian holm ) and happily avoid the draft and enjoy the lady . patrick and dench character meet and decide to reunite the band and which take them on a series of mini adventure . despite ups and down and the band do reunite and make a successful reappearance . the movie be exquisitely write and understate and with superb performance from all involve . the character be well develop and all people who have not quit living and despite their year . and there all that glorious old swing music . this isn not the pontification of steven spielberg and but a serious movie nevertheless . the war affect everyone and that lesson be not forget in a movie that isn not afraid to entertain a it teach .