A War Film with an Anti-War Message

Rating: 9/10 (25 September 2017)

Dunkirk is undoubtedly one of the best films that has so far been released in 2017. I would not go that far to call it one of the greatest war films ever made, as it is yet to stand the test of time, but it definitely is one of the finest made in the 21st century.
Christopher Nolan has once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the most gifted film directors of our time. His greatness lies not just in his own great directorial skills, but also in his ability to pick the right collaborators. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and editor Lee Smith did an amazing job and made this film visually stunning. And what is left to be said about Hans Zimmer? This incredible composer is probably on the way of receiving another Academy Award.
Dunkirk portrays the evacuation of British soldiers from Dunkirk in France during the World War II. It tells the story from three perspectives - the land, the sea and the air - , in a circular fashion that actually creates a unity between three story lines. The actions, the camera work and especially the music compensate perfectly for the lack of proper dialogue, which proves that sometimes you do not need real words to tell a good story.
I have read complaints that Dunkirk has no relatable characters, given that we never learn their backgrounds, but I think that that actually suits the message of the film. For the 'great leaders', who decide on people's fates from their offices, those poor soldiers are just a number they will use in their political games. All those young men are nameless to them. Another powerful message presented in the film is that there is no greatness in war, no glory, no heroism. Survival is all that matters.
The actors all do their roles justice, but some of them I must mention separately, by name, those being Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh and Cillian Murphy. Branagh gives a very touching performance as Commander Bolton, one of those that can make you cry, although they are very subtle. On the other side, you have yet again wonderful Mark Rylance as Mr Dawson, whose stamina and calmness make you believe everything will eventually turn out all right. Cillian Murphy embodies perfectly the fates of so many men that went to war and come back home with severe psychical consequences. I also must mention Harry Styles, who did his job more than decently.
Dunkirk is a striking piece of cinema art. It is a war film with an anti-war message, a definitive must-see at these times of troubles, when the world is on the brink of another world war. If only we could get the politicians to see it and learn a few things from it...