Noted 4,1 out of 5, this is one of the best war films in the 2010s, in line with the greatest masterpieces according to the director of La Land

Damien Chazelle, the director of Whiplash, La La Land and Babylon, never hid his admiration for a war film in particular: Dunkirk, directed by Christopher Nolan in 2017. This feature film, 10th film of the director, who traces the evacuation operation of hundreds of thousands of allied soldiers surrounded by German forces in Dunkirk in 1940, deeply marked the filmmaker.

During an interview with Variety shortly after the film's release, Chazelle spoke with enthusiasm on the subject.

“” “In the current context [du cinéma]how can a film entitled Dunkirk attract so many people in the rooms of the country? It is a small miracle, a major finger of honor to all those who say that there is no more room for risk taking on the big screen.»

He also praised the visual and narrative power of the film.

“” “It is pure cinema, it is the same level as the flame which turns into a desert in Lawrence of Arabia or that the bone in a vessel of 2001. In a combination of wide angle and subtle, overall plan and tiny, telling the smallest detail, the film is closer to the best work of David Lean than any other recent film that I remember.»

Compare Christopher Nolan To David Lean – the legendary British filmmaker behind classics such as the Kwai river bridge, Doctor Jivago or Ryan's daughter – is far from trivial. This is a prestigious tribute, coming from a respected director such as Damien Chazelle.

Warner Bros. Pictures

Shared esteem

And admiration is reciprocal. In The Nolan Variations: The Movies, Mysteries, and Marvels of Christopher Nolana book devoted to his work, Christopher Nolan himself expressed his affection for La la Land ::

“” “For me, La La Land is an extraordinary film. I saw it three or four times, it is an incredible staging, and generally, I do not like musicals.»

Lionsgate

An exchange of compliments between two of the greatest directors of their generation, which illustrates well the mutual respect that these artists passionate about the power of cinema.

Dunkirk is to review in streaming on Prime Video and Max. For La Land, direction the VOD.