The classic Soviet war movie that influenced Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dunkirk’
Every generation has its handful of filmmakers who have become defining figures in cinema. Inspiring those who will come after through their groundbreaking techniques, Christopher Nolan is unquestionably one of these filmmakers, who can only be described as a master of cinematic storytelling.
Making his mark with his debut film The Following, Nolan quickly established the concept that has now become synonymous with his films: non-linear narratives. The film was self-funded with an incredibly low relative budget of $6,000, but it manages to linger in the back of your mind for days after watching as you try and piece all the intricate details of the main character’s authentic journey.
Nolan would later go on to direct some of the most renowned films of the century so far, not being afraid to dive headfirst into various genres. The British filmmaker always seems to be pulled back into the sci-fi genre, with Inception, Interstellar, and Tenet all telling vastly different stories but being connected through using time as the primary narrative force. In between the latter two, Nolan made a film that’s much closer to home in Dunkirk, which many consider his best and most underrated work, Quentin Tarantino included.
Nolan’s first foray into the war genre was much anticipated, leading up to Dunkirk‘s 2017 release. It’s safe to say that it delivered on its expectations, but was still a diversion from his prior films. The war genre produces some of the most heroic stories in cinema, but instead of having its characters achieve and overcome overwhelming adversity in the traditional sense, Dunkirk offers a perspective that many of those who lived through war: that survival is the real victory.
There’s no definite central character in the movie, where violence and history take precedence in the narrative. Structured as a non-linear device that is split between the unique geographies of land, the air and the sea, it’s an immersive experience. This allows Dunkirk to explore the fear and uncertainty present in both the soldiers waiting on the beach and those trying to get them back home. The film certainly looks stunning, but war is by no means glamorised.
While there isn’t anyone like Nolan, even the greats of the industry are inspired by films of the past. Production of war films hasn’t slowed down ever since the end of World War II, but a select few stand out for the visceral impact they have on us as the viewer and modern society’s perspective on the conflict. Come and See may spring to mind – a Russian picture that’s lauded by many to be the greatest war film of all time due to its harrowing, devastating depiction of what a boy witnesses during a Nazi invasion of his hometown in the Soviet Union.
Based on the real-life experiences of director Elem Klimov and co-writer Ales Adamovich’s personal experiences, Come and See doesn’t pull any punches. The continual atrocities of the German invaders are shown as accurately as possible, which led to the film’s production being prevented by the government for years.
While Dunkirk is much faster and uses large action set pieces to convey the horrors of war, the anti-war philosophy is deep-rooted in both of these vastly differing war films. Despite their differences, the physical and emotional toll that war takes on everyone involved is masterfully explored in both, becoming two of the vital entries into the sometimes embellished genre.
