The most crucial aspect of this film is the music. It is the centrepiece of the film’s story. Much discussion was had about the style of the piano piece and the tone, as it would be the jumping off point for everything else. We listened to popular wartime music, soundtracks and classical composers before settling on a style.

When it came to choosing the cinemagraphic elements we would use to tell the story, we embraced an old-fashioned style of filmmaking. Although shot on a digital format we wanted the film to have a nostalgic feel, a homage to British wartime pictures.

Research was key when it came to writing and designing the film. Although the scenario itself was fictitious, the idea was born from real life accounts and family stories. Every detail of the film’s production and costume design was thoroughly researched to ensure as much authenticity as possible, which gave the story an added level of believability.

The uniforms were found and the design of the pianist’s dress were put together very early on in the process, before even a costume designer was brought on board to complete the overall look. This gave the principal actors a way into their characters and led to the development of their emotions, surpassing what was originally written.