Dunkirk

I’m a planner. I like to have days, even weeks, in advance to plan out the perfect evening. But something I’m learning is that spontaneity breeds the best memories. Of course planned occasions are super fun, but when you plan so far in advance you have time to develop expectations. Spontaneous outing don’t have those same expectations, simply because there isn’t time.

My friend and I had talked about going to see Dunkirk on 70mm film, but we had never picked a time. It was hard to find a good time since we would have to drive an hour to get there, and we were both pretty busy. But one day we just decided to go that same night.

Before I get any further I should probably explain what 70mm film is and why I wanted to drive an hour to see a movie in that format. Before the digital revolution, all movies were shot on film, but the standard was 35mm. The difference between 35mm and 70mm film is size and quality of the film itself which then translates into size of the screen and quality of the picture. In the last 30 years nearly all theaters switched to digital projection. Fortunately for movie enthusiasts, there are still a couple hundred theaters throughout the country still equipped for showing movies on real film. Dunkirk was screened on 70mm film at only 159 theaters in the U.S., 5-6 of which were in the Chicago area.

Being a movie enthusiast, I was determined to see Dunkirk on 70mm, as it was intended to be seen. But that meant finding a theater, driving out of my way, and paying extra. Would it all be worth it?

The weather was warm and breezy, I was wearing my favorite dress, drinking Starbucks, and speeding down the road with a friend! We laughed over stories, inside jokes, and made up new jokes! We talked about film, music, friends, and everything else, all while jamming to good music.

I am not a big fan of war movies. They tend to be really serious and depressing. Don’t get me wrong, I love true stories, and movies that reflect life accurately. Life doesn’t always have happy endings, and I love when movies show that. But for some reason war movies are just too much for me. So many of my favorite characters end up dying, and the ones that do survive are not the same. But, Dunkirk was the exception! I loved every second! Yes, it is a war movie, and the characters go through some horrible things. But the main character had unending hope and never gave up. The dialogue is sparse, but powerful. Would men in a war zone talk all the time? Probably not, so the lack of dialogue and the oppressing silence keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.

On top of an incredible story, the movie is beautiful from every technical standpoint! The cinematography was breathtaking, each movement of the camera clearly well thought out. The scenic design, costumes, and makeup were spot on and made each moment even more realistic. The editing kept the audience engaged by telling the story in a nonlinear way. The music was incredible! Of all the amazing aspects of the movie, the music was by far my favorite. Afterward, I couldn’t stop talking about how incredible the score was! Hans Zimmer outdid himself and, it made the movie!

What about seeing it on 70mm film? How was that experience? Could you tell a difference between digital projection and film? To be completely honest, I couldn’t really tell a difference. My understanding is that the colors are brighter and more vibrant on film. But with nothing to compare it to it’s hard to tell.

I would highly recommend this movie to anyone, and I would encourage you to see it in 70mm. When else are you going to get the opportunity to see a movie on 70mm film? You might be wondering why I’m pushing 70mm when I couldn’t even tell a difference in the movie’s quality. For me it wasn’t really about the movie, or about the format the movie was shown in, it was about the experience as a whole. And with that said, I would encourage you to go out of of your way for the entire experience. Not for the movie, but for the memories, the conversation, and the friendship.