As a fan of Dorothy Rabinowitz and Christopher Nolan I understand Ms. Rabinowitz’s muted ire in her essay “The Dumbing Down of Dunkirk.”

Her concern is that the lessons of essential history be conveyed in a comprehensive manner. She sees Mr. Nolan’s film as an opportunity to increase and magnify that history. But, when an artist chooses to tell an emotionally detailed, hard, gritty and harrowing version of any story, they do so knowingly.

Ms. Rabinowitz forgets this movie is not another Batman, Spider-Man, Iron-Man, but a brilliant vision of the all too Hu-Man. We should be grateful to Mr. Nolan for bringing attention to this event in any shape, form or degree. The last two generations, spoon fed as they’ve been on identity politics and political correctness would benefit from the exposure but will not be dragged from their phones, televisions or other pastimes unless they are compelled by moving story telling.

Thanks for the thoughts. Your first guess is as good as any. Only Mr. Nolan can answer that, but it is certainly a standard, if simplistic, accusation against Churchill. I have since seen and reviewed the film: click here.) Churchill was indeed mentioned in the dialogue and his speech after Dunkirk is read by a soldier; some critics say he reads it in a monotone, but that’s how most people read it at the time. I thought it was a useful device—in fact, the best part of the film.

The White House Epstein bust was a loaner (2001), returned to the British Embassy before Obama arrived, but Obama did retain a second identical Epstein bust (presented 1965) upstairs, which he proudly showed to Prime Minister Cameron. The Embassy bust, again on loan, is now back in the Oval Office. So the White House has two again. (For details click here.)

Nor was “Ramsay” (mentioned once), one of many heroes ignored in a partial account which could be about any war on any beach, provides no context about who they were fighting or why, and goes out of its way not to. Vice Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, brought out of retirement by Churchill, worked round the clock with a valiant staff in a Dover bunker, directing the entire operation. It’s a one-dimensional film with some high points, of which the returning soldier reading Churchill’s words is one. My own review will appear shortly.