Delvin Bishop
Ms. Herring
AP English 11
Little Miss Dunkirk
To even compare these two movies, you have to look and observe the nature of the two movies. “Little Miss Sunshine” is a film that portrays itself as a family friendly movie and the title aids it but, this movie is rated R. This movie is about a family learning the value of their relatives. Throughout their trials and tribulations, they all needed at least one of family member to overcome what they were going through. “Dunkirk” is a PG-13 rated movie, this is unusually obscure because most war related movie are R rated. These two movies may be about hugely separate situations they still have connections in their underlining meaning.
“Little Miss Sunshine” started out with each character giving the viewer an insight into the personality and everyday life. One of the first things I noticed while this film was the saturation with negative and positive scenes. Each scene that had a positive outcome or was just a happy instance in generally usually had a bright saturation about it, though when something negatively affected the plot the scene would switch to a ‘cooler’ color scheme. This also showed itself in the beginning scenes with characters and how’d the impact the storyline. Throughout the movie, the color schemes changed for each character representing growth and balance within each character being created. This was furthered with the main lesson of this journey the characters are going on, and that was the value of family.
In the beginning of “Little Miss Sunshine” each character has a wall built up around them. They are all emotionally closed; except the mom of course, portraying motherly instincts and care. Throughout the movie, the family depends on each other heavily to get where they want to be. This is especially tested when they lose their grandfather on the way to their destination. This brings the family even closer together showing each character how to tear down their own walls and welcome love from the others. The movie is centered around the only character oblivious to what is happening to them. She is distracted child-like wonder and insecurities representing that the only person she needs to love more is herself.
“Dunkirk” starts out with an emotionally effective scene showing the downfall of France in WWII. Tommy is alone is stranded which mostly correlates with his personality of being quiet and closed-off. Throughout this movie, Tommy meets Gibson and Alex, and that is where the real journey begins. While with Gibson and Alex they are put through horrendous conditions which includes torpedo’s and being target practice for German soldiers. Through these obstacles through at Tommy he learns that friendship and reliance is some of the most important things he needs to learn. While learning these lessons with his new-found friends, he loses Gibson in an attack. This event brings Alex and Tommy closer than before and finds a new trust for him.
In another storyline sits Mr. Dawson, his son Peter and, a helper named George. They are headed to Dunkirk and are faced with many challenges along the way. While on this quest they encounter a soldier in the water. The soldier won’t say a word until he finds out that the ship he is on is headed to Dunkirk. He then tried to take control of the boat and knocks George to the bottom of the boat causing him to go blind. Peter informs his father and Mr. Dawson insists that they have travelled too far to turn around for medical assistance. The blinding of George foreshadows something the group is not seeing in front of them
In another storyline within this movie a squadron of pilots are giving air supply to troops and sees a German fighter plane. They go after the plane but, they squadron leader is killed. Collins (one of the pilots) planes get shot down and he nearly drowns. This event connects Collins with Mr. Dawson and Peter.
All storylines come together in the end of the film to face one challenge together. They use each other and their resources to fight off German fighter pilots and bombs, in this scene of Armageddon they lose George, which brings each character from each storyline closer to one another. In the end of this 1 hour and 46 minute film the troops are expecting a disappointing welcome home after the defeat and evacuation. Instead the welcomed and celebrated. While being celebrated Alex and Tommy reads Churchill’s statements on the troop. He commends them for their bravery but also, he reminds them that evacuations don’t win wars. Churchill ends his statements with an oath to never surrender.
These two movies vastly different with their substance and plots but each have at least one thing that connects each of the tales told by the characters and that is to never give on yourself or anybody else. You can see this occurring in “Little Miss Sunshine” when Olive’s family is arguing with each other to determine whether or not to let Olive continue with the beauty pageant. You can also see this idea in “Dunkirk”; especially in the end with Churchill’s closing words to inspire the country.
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