Dunkirk: why did Christopher Nolan’s film cause controversy in France?

Dunkirk: Christopher Nolan’s great war film

Published in 2017, Dunkirkdirected by Christopher Nolan, it received international recognition for its intense recreation of the evacuation of Allied troops during World War II. However, the film sparked controversy in France, due to the poor portrayal of French soldiers in this key episode of history.

The Dunkirk evacuation, or Operation Dynamo, took place in May-June 1940. It saved approximately 338,000 British and French soldiers, surrounded by German forces. The success of this operation was largely possible thanks to the French forces who, despite enormous losses, resisted heroically slow down the German advance and allow the evacuation of allied troops.

A controversy in France

Controversy arose in France following the film’s release, as several viewers and commentators pointed out that Dunkirk downplayed the contribution of French forces during this event. In the film, British soldiers take center stage, while French troops appear briefly, and sometimes anonymously, in secondary scenes. This portrayal disappointed some French audiences, who felt that the film ignored the crucial role of French soldiers in the defense of Dunkirk.

Historians also reactedbelieving that the film reflected a primarily British-centric view, while Operation Dynamo was a cooperation between British and French troops. Dominique Lormier, a French historian, recalled the sacrifice of 30,000 French soldiers, regretting that this contribution was largely ignored in the film.

Some viewers judged it unfair underrepresentationgiven the historical importance of the French resistance in the outcome of the operation.

For his part, Christopher Nolan defended his artistic choice, explaining it Dunkirk it was not intended to present an exhaustive picture of the evacuation, but rather to focus on the individual experiences of soldiers in a war situation. He also made it clear that his film is closer to the British point of view, because it is about paying homage to his country’s perspective on this historical episode.

Source: Cine Serie

Ray

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