The Dunkirk Dilemma

Earlier this week, Warner Brothers released the full length theatrical trailer for Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, based on the events of the successful Allied evacuation in May-June 1940. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, the clips showcased were both visually stimulating and terrifying.

When I first saw the trailer in theaters on Thursday, I was blown away, only to be interrupted by a man behind me, who leaned over to his friend, asking "What is that?"

While Operation Dynamo is an extremely riveting and harrowing tale (that arguably dictated the fate of the entire Western World), it involved no American personnel whatsoever, and as such, it receives little attention in U.S. history books. This is a purely Franco-British endeavor, and a fairly unknown one, at best. Blockbuster World War II films generally seem to be centered around American forces, and well-known engagements. For every for every Dunkirk-esque film, there are at least five productions detailing aspects of the Invasion of Normandy or Pearl Harbor. Even British made epic films such as A Bridge too Far focus extensively on U.S. troops. The big budget nature of the picture and it's relative obscurity give it potential for financial failure as American audiences may fail to turn out as they have with other, Ameri-centric productions such as Saving Private Ryan.

The ensemble cast and crew- featuring fantastic actors such as Mark Rylance, Cillian Murphy, and Tom Hardy and debuting Harry Styles (with the added bonus of Nolan himself) if promoted well enough could compensate for any potential financial downside. The trailer; however, failed to capitalize on their name recognition. To be fair, it is only the first clips to be released, and I'm sure more will be released in due time. Overall; however, I am absolutely looking forward to seeing Dunkirk next summer, and advise you to, as well.

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