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Task 2. Dunkirk Film Analysis 

Inquiry Question: How historically accurate is the film Dunkirk in its portrayal of the Dunkirk evacuation?

Aim: To apply your source analysis skills to evaluate the historical accuracy of the film Dunkirk.

You will investigate how the film represents events during the 1940 evacuation of Dunkirk and evaluate what is historically accurate and what has been dramatised.

Remember: Films are created to entertain as well as inform.

Your task is not to decide whether the film is good. Your task is to evaluate whether it is historically reliable and useful as a source of evidence.

Task Overview

  • Watch the film Dunkirk.

  • Select three specific focus areas. Scenes, events or aspects of the film to fact check.

  • Locate one primary source and one secondary source for EACH of your three chosen scenes.

  • Use the sources to ealuate how accurately the film portrays those events.

Present your findings in either:

A 3 minute Slideshow presentation

A language rich visual poster

Your analysis must include:

  • Clear structure

  • Evidence from 6 sources total (3 primary, 3 secondary)

  • Direct comparison between film and historical evidence

  • Historically rich language

  • Harvard referencing

  • Bibliography (References)

Suggested structure:

Slide 1. Introduction

Slide 2 – 3. Focus Area 1

Slide 4 - 5. Focus Area 2

Slide 6 – 7. Focus Area 3

Slide 8. Overall Judgement

Slide 9. References

How to do the Dunkirk film source analysis

Step 1: Choose your three focus areas

Select three clearly identifiable aspects of the film. These must be specific.

For example:

  • The role of civilian boats (The Little Ships)

  • RAF air support

  • The portrayal of German forces

  • Conditions on the beach

  • Leadership and decision making

  • The sinking of ships

  • Soldier morale and discipline

Note: Avoid vague choices like “the battle” or “the evacuation.”

Step 2. Write clear inquiry questions for your three focus areas:

Example: How accurately does the film Dunkirk portray the role of civilian boats in Operation Dynamo?

Step 3: Find Your Sources

For EACH of your three focus areas, you must locate one primary and one secondary source.

One Primary Source

For example:

  • Diary entry

  • Letter

  • Government document

  • Photograph

  • Newspaper article from 1940

  • Speech

Step 4: Analyse and evaluate your evidence

For each of your three chosen focus areas:

1. Describe the film’s portrayal of each focus area

  • What happens?

  • How is it shown?

  • What emotional message is conveyed?

  • What impression does the audience receive?

2. Compare with historical evidence from the sources.

  • What does your primary source reveal?

  • What does your secondary source conclude?

  • What matches?

  • What differs?

  • What is missing?

  • What is exaggerated or simplified?

3. Evaluate

  • Why might the filmmakers have changed or simplified events?

  • Does this change improve storytelling?

  • Does it distort history?

  • Overall, how accurate is the films portrayal?

One Secondary Source

For example:

  • Historian’s account

  • Academic article

  • History textbook

  • Museum website

  • Documentary analysis

Note: You must use reliable and credible sources.