Christopher Nolan’s film “Dunkirk” hit theaters in mid-July, but is still hanging around several theaters as the month of September rolls in. While it is not the first film to follow the distressing narrative of British World War II soldiers trapped on the beaches of France, it is an interesting take on the event
One of the most standout features of the film is the lack of dialogue. The story comes to life without much dialogue; but rather, uses realistic cinematography and character emotions to drive the plot.
There is no singluar protagonist in the film, which might cause some to be hesitant to believe in the film. However, there is no reason to become concerned about a disinteresting plot because there is not just one narrative. Many consider the film an ensemble rather than just one story being told, as Nolan jumps across multiple storylines. He highlights the narrative of those trapped on the beach waiting for boats, the story of citizens of England coming in their personal boats to evacuate the soldiers and the story of fighter pilots trying to stop the German air assault. The film was brought together in an unusual way, but it is what makes the motion picture a truly special work of art.
The most emotional part of the film for viewers such as myself may be the storyline of the Spitfire pilots in the air. There were so many limits being tested by these pilots, from low fuel and plane malfunctions to aggressive attacks by the Germans. This particular part of the film really brought a true appreciation for what these soldiers did and showed how willing they were to sacrifice themselves for others.
The closing scene of the film was perfectly sad, and it was nothing more than a simple display accompanied by a beautiful soundtrack.
It is thought that this movie could easily be the most widely-seen depiction of a historical event in 2017 and is pretty accurate to true life events. While the storylines were not all based on real life people, they were nearly identical to what was likely happening on the beaches of France in 1940.
The film is significant because without access to the content in this form, many people would never have known the story of Dunkirk. As war movies become more and more popular, it is refreshing to see these stories of heroes be told. If the importance of hearing these stories does not strike you as a reason to see the film, perhaps Christopher Nolan and Hans Zimmer (and star Harry Styles) are reason enough to go.
