Dunkirk - A 650 word review [NO SPOILERS]

I usually don’t write movie reviews and I’ve never watched a movie for the second time in a theatre. Dunkirk has broken through both of these. In a space of 5 days, I’ve watched this movie twice and an in-suppressible urge is leading me to write about it.

Dunkirk is a movie of gargantuan proportions. It does not show war; it has no blazing tanks and searing missiles. It is not the story of how the Englishmen bravely fought the enemies; it is not a movie that portrays the ingenious code breakers and sly spies in enemy territory. Dunkirk shows the grim reality of war; tells us that there is no valour and pride, only the dire need for survival.

This is quite unlike a Nolan movie for the plot is simple and straight forward. However, the story is narrated from three perspectives – Land, Sea and Air, all of which culminates into a brilliant climax. This is yet another one of those movies whose grandiose and magnificence cannot be fully understood without knowing the history behind it. England with its allies, Belgium, Netherlands and France are at the brink of defeat in the hands of Nazis and 400,000 men are stuck on the shores of Dunkirk surrounded by the Enemy with only the ocean to their back. 40 kilometres to the other side of the ocean is Home (England).

The plot is riveting and narration along with camera work is extraordinary so much so that it keeps the audience on the edge of their seat. Hans Zimmer’s background score is largely simple yet haunting- particularly the scenes in the air. More than half the audience did not leave the screen for the short 10 minute recess in between (you can also attribute this to the price of friggin’ pop-corn INOX and PVR sells, but I’ll hold the director responsible for it).

Nolan portrays the need for survival that the men are pushed into while facing death for a price of anything, another life, even. The scenes on the beach are heart shattering, ones in air leave you in awe and those in the sea leave you in tears. The story also tells you that at the time of grave danger, the time of darkness, heroes are born.  They don’t necessarily fly a Spitfire or command a battalion; they can be mere school boys too.

A few scenes literally hurt you. The finesse and attention to detail is unarguable. Nolan portrays the different reactions by each soldier. The full-time soldier covers his face, mortifying himself thinking people would spit at him and spew hate at him back home for losing the battle whereas the young men called up for service only want to ‘Go Home,’ more than happy to be alive. Having said that, it is slightly upsetting that Nolan has not showcased the Indian regiment that was also present during the event and reported to have been remarkably cool during the shelling on the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940.

The movie’s end fills you with hope and a dawning realisation of how cruel war can be. Whoever wins the war, humanity loses. It serves as a forewarning to all the recent aggression that the world is seeing- a reminder of the folly several men committed seven decades earlier that led to the destruction of half the world.

Dunkirk is a masterpiece that will haunt you, torment you and literally, leave you ‘shell-shocked.’ The feature fades out with the words of Churchill from his address at the House of Commons after Operation Dynamo.

“We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”