Review of Dunkirk

A British war adventure; A story set during Operation Dynamo, a reconstruction of the evacuation of surrounded British and French troops on the beaches of Dunkirk in France between 26 May and 4 June 1940. Events are seen mostly from the viewpoints of two people, a civilian in England, newspaper reporter, and a British soldier who becomes detached from the rest of the retreating Allies in France. The events are given reverent but reserved treatment. It puts forward the notion that the soldiers were men first and heroes second. The inspirational nature of the event is captured well, as are the actions during, leading up to, and including the evacuation. It is gritty in showing the bravery, sacrifices made and struggle against-the-odds. It also pulls no punches about the way the British people viewed the event before it happened, and the conflict and disagreements within the Royal Navy and in government. All in all, it is a film that concentrates on inspiring the viewer at the expense of exploiting the potential to be engrossing.