When it comes to studying history, anything involving World War II is always especially intriguing to me. When I lived in Hawaii, the USS Arizona Memorial was practically in my backyard. I’ve stood in Anne Frank’s bedroom in Amsterdam, and have even visited the Bastogne War Museum in Belgium. I thought I knew a lot about World War II. Then I saw Dunkirk.
Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk is based on an true story. In the spring of 1940, British and French troops found themselves trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk, France, only 26 miles from England. Several times in the movie, it was pointed out that you could almost see Great Britain’s coast from the beaches of Dunkirk.
The British and French had no where to go, and the only possible escape was the sea. With German aircraft hovering along the coastline, 400,000 troops were sitting ducks as the Germans mercilessly dropped bombs on them.
The British Navy tried in earnest to come to the rescue of their army counterparts, but the large tidal range made it impossible for large naval vessels to approach the beach. That’s when the seafaring citizens of England stepped in to help.
While I’ve seen many war movies, this one truly stood out from the rest. Most war stories focus on central characters, giving the audience glimpses of their backstories. Dunkirk’s main characters, for the most part, were anonymous soldiers desperately trying to get home. It was interesting not even knowing their names because I realized I didn’t need to know anything about them to appreciate the colossal struggle they endured as they valiantly fought for their lives. While it was never revealed what their original mission was, it became evident that escaping France was their only priority.
As I watched them stand on the beaches helplessly trying to shield themselves from the German onslaught, I was horrified. I can’t even imagine how terrified and vulnerable they must have felt.
The sound effects absolutely made the movie! My husband Mike, who saw Dunkirk with me, commented that he doesn’t think he’s ever seen a movie where the sound effects were so loud. While I’m not usually a fan of loud movies, in this case the sounds were just as critical to the plot as the special effects were. Mike said, “The audience’s discomfort mirrors the agony of those who were stranded.”
The special effects, as I expected, were stunning, especially the scenes involving the aircraft. Several times I felt my eyes well up as I watched the young men gasping for air as the sea viciously engulfed them.
I knew in advance the general premise that British citizens came to the rescue of their army, but watching it unfold still made me emotional. Mark Rylance’s character Mr. Dawson owns a pleasure boat, and together with his son, they purposely head into danger to help their own, strangers but still countrymen nevertheless. I found his performance to be especially moving as his determination to help was fierce yet unbelievably compassionate.
Kenneth Branagh, as always, was impressive in his role as a naval officer tasked with coordinating the evacuation, a daunting task that no one would ever willingly volunteer. His resolve to save as many troops as possible was inspiring.
Tom Hardy and Jack Lowden both gave exceptional performances as Royal Air Force pilots trying to protect those on the beach from the Germans. The one soldier who seems to be the central focus is, according to the credits, named Tommy, but Mike and I don’t recall ever hearing his name used in the film. Fionn Whitehead played the role convincingly, and throughout the movie I kept thinking, “Can’t this poor kid catch a break?”
While I stepped into the movie not really knowing much about the story of Dunkirk, I can promise you that I’ll never forget it. The movie highlights so many attributes that are admirable, especially bravery, tenacity, and selflessness.
My only complaint, and minor at that, is that I wish there was a more substantial epilogue to give me more information about the casualties and survivors of Dunkirk, but I suppose that’s why I have the internet.
Mike had been eager to see the movie for quite some time, and after the movie he reflected, “This movie did not disappoint. As the movie progressed, I kept thinking to myself that I was watching something significant. There’s no way that Dunkirk will be excluded from the Oscars conversation this year. If you’re thinking about seeing it, don’t wait until it comes out on DVD. The sound effects need to be heard in the theater.”
Movie times: click here
Genre: Action, Drama, History
Director: Christopher Nolan
Actors: Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance, Harry Styles, Fionn Whitehead, Damien Bonnard, Aneurin Barnard
Running Time: 1 hour 46 minutes
Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense war experience and some language
