Why Nolan's 'Dunkirk' is different to other war classics

By Christopher Georgiou & Zhang Rui
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, September 8, 2017
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Director Christopher Nolan, Chinese director Huang Jianxin and film critic Raymond Zhou join together for a filmmaking dialogue during Nolan's promotional tour for "Dunkirk" in Beijing, Aug. 22, 2017. [Photo/China.org.cn] 



Filming in Dunkirk took place at the location of the real evacuation, while the street scenes were shot in nearby Malo-les-Bains because most of the buildings in Dunkirk were destroyed in the war.

To minimize the need for computer-generated imagery (CGI), cardboard cut-out props of soldiers and military vehicles created the illusion of a large army. The movie paid great expense to ensure real or scale model fighter aircraft, and real warships and private boats, to provide a realism which could not be achieved from CGI. Scale models were created via 3D printing.

Another attracting feature of the film is the IMAX format. Continuing the legacy begun by IMAX trailblazer Nolan and his team’s use of the 15 perf 70mm IMAX cameras in "Interstellar," "The Dark Knight" and "The Dark Knight Rises," the majority of "Dunkirk" was shot using IMAX cameras.

Exclusively in IMAX theaters, these sequences will expand to fill the entire screen and will deliver unprecedented crispness and clarity and provide the audience with a truly cinematic and immersive experience.

The Chinese market has responded positively. "Dunkirk" opened strongly on 441 IMAX theaters in China on Sept. 1, grossing 31 million yuan - which is the highest three-day opening weekend of a September title for IMAX China. The film surpassed 2014's "Interstellar" on the opening weekend, opening day and midnight IMAX box office records as well as all of Nolan's other films. IMAX tickets represented nearly half of the opening midnight show's ticket sales for “Dunkirk” in China. As of today, 16 of the top 20 locations in China for the film are IMAX. 

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