Not just another war film (Thoughts on film 'Dunkirk')

(Note - Spoiler Alert)

Yesterday, along with my family members, I watched the film, 'Dunkirk' at Geeta Multiplex, Bhimavaram. War films always enthralled me, especially on the second world war. Viewed from the prism of genius directors, they offer a glimpse of no escape from the hard reality and an element of the inevitable and the grotesque. Christopher Nolan, one of my favorites, being a master of his own craft, is new to this genre, yet justifies the 'master' tag.

Set as a non-linear story, the film revolves around the disastrous Dunkirk evacuation (Miracle of Dunkirk, as dubbed by Sir Churchill). Three different sub-plots are woven into an endearing tale of life and death. With the riveting music score by Hans Zimmer, every scene has something to offer - be it the depths of emotion, a base instinct for survival at all costs or the celebration of the 'never-say die' spirit of the British.

There are the technical aspects of the film and the visual effects (The Minesweeper being destroyed and caught in the resultant oil spill even as survivors are being rescued) as well as tear-jerking humane element (muffled voices of the drowning). The end is even more riveting - Farrier, the pilot (Tom Hardy) apparently caught after a gloomy, yet 'mission accomplished' sort of look on his face, tears of joy of Captain Bolton (Kenneth Branagh) and his 'wait for the French', and triumph over disaster as the evacuees are welcomed by the British Public.

The ensemble cast includes Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard, James D'Arcy, Barry Keoghan, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, and Tom Hardy - a wonderful job, well done! Although there are many war films, this stands out, not just as another war film, but a masterpiece celebrating hope over despair, in a true British way, contrasted by the stark reality and inevitability of war


Frankly, I've expected a scene of Sir Winston Churchill and one of his celebrated generals/admirals, but Nolan was spot on when he said he did not want this film to be 'bogged down in the politics of the situation'.



Film - 'Dunkirk' (2017) 
Link - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk_%282017_film%29
IMDb Link - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5013056/