Dunkirk (2017) written and directed by Christopher Nolan is a poignant depiction of the famous British retreat from France. An event in which a fleet of civilian ships successfully rescued and returned nearly three hundred thousand Allied troops from Dunkirk beach to British shores. Despite this grand premise of bittersweet triumph in the face of danger, Christopher Nolan presents the evacuation from a very human perspective that matches how real soldiers involved in the conflict would have experienced it. The immersive war experience that this creates is easily one of the film's greatest strengths and something that Christopher Nolan clearly spent most of his effort perfecting. All of the film's settings are period-appropriate, with Nolan even going so far as to use World War II-era boats and planes to ensure each scene feels as authentic as possible. The film's sound design is also extremely well done, with gunshots and explosions that are suitably loud and terrifying. More subtle details such as the jerks and rattles of the Spitfires featured in the film also helped give the planes the illusion of a physical sensation, an effect that immerses audiences in the sensation of flying. These immersive qualities are part of what makes action sequences in films so engaging. With such a realistic depiction of war, audiences can feel like they can actually be part of the experience on stage. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Another strength of the film is its soundtrack and cinematic presentation. Hanz Zimmer's music for the film is used to great effect in order to create an ever-increasing sense of tension that continually builds throughout the film's running time. This effect of constant anxiety is largely due to Hanz Zimmer's use of stylistic devices such as the metronomic ticking clock that he incorporates into the film's music. Reminiscent of the sound of a clock, this constant and omnipresent noise signals to the audience the feeling that time is running out and that something is about to happen. Instead of building until the tension breaks, the ticking remains constant and the audience is left in a constant state of anxiety. Hans Zimmer also incorporates so-called Stanford sounds into his soundtrack. Without delving into the science behind them, these tones create the illusion of a pitch that seems to never stop rising. Likewise, this rising tone creates tension, subconsciously informing the audience that the tone is reaching some sort of climax. This climax never arrives either and creates an almost palpable atmosphere of dread and tension for the audience. This atmosphere suits the film's exploration of how real soldiers would have experienced Dunkirk. The increasing tension that Zimmer imbues into his soundtrack serves to replicate the sense of impending danger from the repeated German bombings that we see in the film. Through the atmosphere of the soundtrack, the feeling of helplessness and anxiety felt by the protagonists in the film can be effectively conveyed to the audience. This serves to both make the film more unique and engaging, but also establishes one of its key themes; the human cost of war. Unsurprisingly, given Christopher Nolan's past work, the film also features stunning visuals and cinematography. The film as a whole is a huge spectacle capable of capturing the audience's attention with the beauty of its presentation of destruction. Every scene manages to be.