France, 1915. The impact of the First World War is being felt across Europe as conscription forces the men to leave their homes for the battlefield. Hortense, realising she has to hold up her family’s farm with less than half the labour force hires a helping hand, Francine. The young woman works hard and, with the arrival of Hortense’s son Georges, finally feels she has a place she can call home. As the battle rages on, these women unite to keep both their family and society from collapsing. Featuring touching performances from French screen legend Nathalie Baye and astounding newcomer Iris Bry alike, and cinematography that captures the bucolic life with painterly splendour, ‘The Guardians’ shines a light on the untold lives, characters and details that helped shape the First World War.
