Review of Dunkirk (2017) by Sumaita H — 22 Jul 2017

Nolan's ambition results in a masterful depiction of the quickness of war. Set against a soundtrack of constant consternation, the film's urgent pace and colossal imagery impart a lasting impression of wartime mania.

Though many pan the film for its lack of "heart," the timing of war does not allow for prolonged breaks of teary despair or prolonged insight into every character. There is no time to stop and process much of anything: the audience is immediately thrust into a chaotic environment, running with the actors, soaring with them. Such detachment is exactly what survivors display and Nolan captures this and develops it into the essence of his project. The few moments of silence the film offers are perhaps the only times of relief before we come back to the unnerving realization that the war has yet to end. Even as the screen cuts to black, it's as if we are still moving.