IT is not often that a war film leaves its audience speech-less and many with genuine tears in their eyes.

But director Christopher Nolan does that and so much more in a classic piece of historical story-telling.

Nolan is famous for the best Batman films of late and such clever, commercial movies as Inception and Interstellar, but with this massive project - close to his 46-year-old heart - he has created a masterpiece.

The evacuation of Dunkirk has been told before notably in the John Mills 1959 version, but never like this.

It is short on dialogue but powerful on performances – individually and collectively.

The story is told in a way that few can carry off and all of it accompanied by a stunningly beautifully, thought-out musical score from Hans Zimmer.

For one hour 45 minutes there is no escape from the sheer brutality of war as you become a virtual eye-witness watching the sheer determination of human spirit.

More than 400,000 allied soldiers were stranded.

They waited.

They stuck together.

They hoped and they prayed.

Some never survived the onslaught from the Luftwaffe's dive-bombers.

I knew what that 'Dunkirk spirit' meant because my parents told me.

My mum - now 94 years of age - was in the WAAF.

She recalls seeing the lads return in ragged uniforms torn to ribbons in their struggles.

My late dad, a Gunner, was a prisoner-of-war and recalled the news filtering through.

It was a 'miracle in my lifetime' he once told me.

Nolan does not give audiences scenes of unrelenting blood and gore.

There are endless explosions and ear-shattering gun-fire, but there is a lot more happening on land, sea and air.

The tension is very, very real.

You won't find any computer graphics.

The aerial dog fights - where the RAF kept the enemy at bay – will leave you feeling you are in the Spitfire cockpits. 

The actual Dunkirk beaches were used, adding eerie authenticity to the film.

And the sea and the sky are incredible natural backdrops.

The story is told through three perspectives; the troops on the ground; the airmen in their Spitfires and the remarkable civilians and merchant seaman in the 'little boats.' 

All endured a glimpse of a hell on earth.

Dunkirk is gripping, poignant, painful, intense yet ultimately uplifting.

When one scene shows the armada of British boats heading across the Channel towards Dunkirk I had tears in my eyes.

Kenneth Branagh, as a naval commander, is simply outstanding throughout with his facial expressions.

His eyes speak volumes.

When asked by an army officer what he sees through his binoculars, he smiles at the approaching armada of little ships from Blighty and says with pride "home".

The cast all contribute so much; Mark Rylance as a gentle heroic skipper in his little vessel, singer-turned-actor Harry Styles as a soldier, newcomer Fionn Whitehead as the symbolically named 'Tommy' and Tom Hardy as a brave, RAF pilot all clearly relish the opportunity to be part of this faultless piece of film history.

Every school should see it – there is no better compliment for this magnificent cinematic achievement.

Five stars 

Astonishing

Certificate 12