The Emotional Impact of “Dunkirk”
By Madeline Phaby
Grade for “Dunkirk”: A-
Dunkirk is a 2017 film directed by Christopher Nolan that gives a stunning account of the 1940 evacuation of Dunkirk. The film’s heavy emphasis on visuals and sound rather than dialogue makes it a highly immersive experience for the viewer, while also contributing greatly to its successful portrayal of the emotional impact of war. While this alone is arguably enough to make Dunkirk an effective historical film, the lingering sense of English superiority created by certain aspects of the plot hold it back from achieving the perfect depiction of the dramatic event.
The premise of the film is to show the events of the evacuation on multiple fronts – the land (a week of action), the sea (a day of action), and the air (an hour of action). This concept mirrors the words of a speech by then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill in response to the events at Dunkirk in which he stated that the Britons would fight “on the seas and oceans,” “in the air,” and “on the beaches.” The viewer is whisked back and forth between the three storylines, which contributes to the dramatic nature of the film by often leaving the viewer in suspense as to what would happen to the characters in the previous storyline. Also contributing to this suspense is the deeply immersive nature of the directing, as the viewer is often made to feel as if they are underwater along with the soldiers frantically trying to escape their sinking ship or sinking through the air along with a pilot whose plane has been shot down. The genuine panic exhibited by the actors portraying the soldiers, relative lack of melodramatic side stories, and sole focus on the wartime action without digressions into the Homefront or British politics make the film an impressively emotionally accurate illustration of the events at Dunkirk.
Despite its numerous strong points, Dunkirk falls a bit short when it comes to historical accuracy. Although it is rather subtle, there is a pervasive sense throughout the film that English soldiers and civilians were the sole heroes responsible for the success of the evacuation. French contributions are largely ignored, and in fact, the only French soldier shown in the film wears a stolen British Army uniform and is nearly thrown off the ship because the others suspect he is a German spy. The cast of the film is also blindingly white, which does not account for the thousands of African and Indian soldiers that served in the British and French armies. While it is up to the viewer to determine whether these inaccuracies are enough to taint their opinion of the film, they are certainly worth noting. Regardless, Dunkirk is a visual masterpiece that is definitely accurate in at least one regard – its portrayal of the emotions experienced by someone who endures war.
Madeline Phaby is a freshman majoring in History.