During World War II, 400,000 men were trapped in Dunkirk by their enemy. When they couldn't get home, home came to them. Dunkirk tells the harrowing story about this mission of survival.

In his first war movie, Christopher Nolan fuses together land, air, and sea to show different parts of the same battle. Taking place at different times, each event within this battle ties together for the movie's conclusion of over 300,000 men retreating across the English Channel to England, helping lead the Allies to secure a victory.

"Dunkirk" is not like the traditional war movies we have seen on the screen; it is a thriller. Nolan's movie tells a tale of how civilians and soldiers survived together. The story does not involve a dramatic conflict. It tells the tale of different anecdotes in desperate situations that intertwine while making life or death decisions.

While the characters are making these decisions, the audience is left to fill in the blanks of the character's lives that they are trying to get back to in England. The characters are never named, leaving the audience to wonder about each character's backstory. This choice was intentional by Nolan as he wanted to honor the soldiers that fought for survival. Nolan did not fictionalize a real story of survival and hope.

The performances on screen and off in this movie were praiseworthy. Each actor portrayed their character with a kind of desperation that shows how badly each wanted to get home without revealing what was home for them. Each had their own reasoning for their actions but ultimately they had the same goal: to survive another day.

Because of the lack of dialogue between characters in some scenes, the actors had to learn how to show their emotions through actions and facial expressions. This draws out and highlights the fear and desperation of the soldiers and the realness of the story because when you are facing a life or death situation, you are working under adrenaline and your body is performing under stress.

I could go on and on about how amazing this movie is, but I highly suggest you go see this in the theater and learn about this saga and experience the beauty of the cinematography and the raw emotions for yourself. This is the movie of the summer.