the true horrors of life

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I love a good horror film. The best horror films are those that you believe could happen in real life, those based on psychology or mental health rather than supernatural elements. But the most horrific *horror* films are those which are based on the truth about the wicked ways of men {and women}. And the best of these horrific *horror* films are those which pull you in and make you feel things you may never have felt before. We saw Dunkirk today. I had a conversation with the girl nearest me, about fifteen or twenty minutes in. Girl: Natter, natter, natter, squeal, natter, Harry Styles!, natter, blahblahblah-deblah. Me: If you're going to talk all the way through the film could you please go and sit somewhere else? Girl: Oooh, sorry. I didn't realise I was offending you. Me: You weren't offending me, you just won't shut up. Girl: *rolls eyes* {but does shut up for the rest of the film.} Annoyances of Chatty Girl aside, this was an amazing and beautiful film. It evoked so many feelings, including ... Fear. Fear of the German advancement. Fear of the unknown. Fear of never seeing family again. Fear of Death. Fear of being found out. Bravery. The bravery of young men, children really, barely out of short trousers. The bravery of nurses providing tea and toast on battleships. The bravery of fighter pilots, watching their fuel diminish. The bravery of civilians, doing their bit for King and Country. Hope. Were people more stoic in those long ago days? Were they more likely to band together and support each other? Would we do the same now, in those same circumstances? Would Chatty Girl, or her boyfriend? I hope so. I hope we're not so far removed from the people of our grandparents generation. Patriotism. Even in the midst of a jumbled chaos the British were able to queue on the beaches, and wait their turn. I will admit to finding the three separate timelines {1. The Mole: One Week, 2. The Sea: One Day, 3. The Air: One Hour} to be a trifle confusing. Why was Cillian Murphy there, when he was there a minute ago? When did it get dark so quickly?! But this confusion simply adds to the film; it highlights the confusion felt by the people involved, both civilian and armed forces. There were many times throughout the film where I caught myself holding my breath or digging my nails into my palms. Sighs of relief, hiccoughs of sadness ... pain, anger, admiration. This was a fast-paced, superbly acted, thought-provoking film. But it was also horrific. It is a horror film, but not in the genre of a horror film. And the most horrific aspect of it is that we never learn. Society never learns. Humankind never learns. The ordinary amongst us will always be expendable, always first in the firing line. Husband's grandad was a survivor of Dunkirk. So sad. People are so silly.