Dunkirk dream

Damon Smith looks at the film which was a long-held dream for director Christopher Nolan, recreating the evacuation of Allied soldiers from enemy territory in Dunkirk

Oscar-nominated London-born director Christopher Nolan and his producer wife Emma Thomas realise their dream of immortalising the largest evacuation of Allied Forces during the Second World War on lustrous 70mm celluloid.

Cleverly unfolding in fragments, which slot together to form a compelling and deeply moving narrative, Dunkirk captures this momentous page in recent history from multiple perspectives.

Young soldier Tommy (Fionn Whitehead) escapes from German fire and hopes to get the first boat home with another terrified recruit, Gibson (Aneurin Barnard). The lads join forces with fellow soldier Alex (Harry Styles) and place their faith in Commander Bolton (Kenneth Branagh) and Captain Winnant (James D’arcy) to orchestrate a miracle on the French beaches strewn with bodies. Meanwhile, Mr Dawson (Mark Rylance) answers Winston Churchill’s impassioned call for civilian boats to head to Dunkirk to rescue British soldiers, accompanied by his surviving son Peter (Tom Glynn-carney) and the boy’s friend, George (Barry Keoghan).

Heading out to sea, the Dawsons rescue a shivering, shell-shocked soldier (Cillian Murphy) from the hull of an overturned vessel and witness a dogfight between German fighter planes and Royal Air Force Spitfires piloted by Farrier (Tom Hardy) and Collins (Jack Lowden). Each small victory comes at a heartbreaking price. Dunkirk (12A) is out in cinemas on Friday, July 21.

An exhibition featuring some of the costumes used in the film is on show at Dover Castle until the end of August. Read the full story at kentonline.co.uk/ whats-on

Pictures: PA Photo/warner Bros