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The use of sound in cinema has been a delicate instrument of storytelling, for generations. However, in the modern world of filmmaking, where directors have often let sound fade into the background, Christopher Nolan challenged the conventional, and emerged with a profound sense of scale, noise, and music, that helped redefine audiences’ experience of a film.
Unfortunately, despite his audacious take on transforming the auditory landscape into a visceral force, Christopher Nolan often found himself and his films on the brink of criticism. Nolan’s World War II dramaDunkirk, which immersed viewers in the harrowing reality of war through a groundbreaking sound design, happens to be a striking example where the filmmaker faced criticism for his auditory revolution.
Critics and Fans SlammedDunkirkandInterstellarfor its Soundscape
In the ever-evolving world of cinema, where visual spectacle often takes center stage,Christopher Nolan‘s films tend to offer a masterclass in sound design, proving that the auditory experience can be as revolutionary as the visual one. However, following the release of his World War II dramaDunkirk, audiences were drawn to its intense soundscapes, which, while mesmerizing, also sparked a heated debate over their loudness.
Netizens took to social media to express their discontent towards the waar drama which sparked further conversation about howChristopher Nolan’s space spectacleInterstellarhad previously faced similar issues where the dialogues seemingly drowned behind the soundscape. According toIndieWire, fans seemed so disappointed withDunkirk’s blaring sound that people issued a PSA warning for moviegoers, against the film.
Fansnotedthat despiteDunkirkbeing an impressive piece of filmmaking, its sound kept them from being able to fully engage. Further, taking back toInterstellar, fans recalled how the dialogues were drowned out, due to Christopher Nolan’s unconventional approach to sound mixing. But as it turns out,these repeated issuesweren’t a mere oversight or technical flaw; it was a deliberate artistic choice by Nolan.
Christopher Nolan Redefined Cinema with His Auditory Revolution
Christopher Nolan, renowned for his meticulous craftsmanship, has long been interested in the interplay between sound and narrative. In his space project,Interstellar, he famously used dialogue as a sound effect, blending it subtly with other auditory elements to underscore the overwhelming scale of space. Yet,Dunkirkmarked a daring evolutionof this concept, where the sound wasn’t used just as a backdrop but as a driving force of the storytelling itself.
There are particular moments in [“Interstellar”] where I decided to use dialogue as a sound effect, so sometimes it’s mixed slightly underneath the other sound effects or in the other sound effects to emphasize how loud the surrounding noise is.
I don’t agree with the idea that you may only achieve clarity through dialogue. Clarity of story, clarity of emotions — I attempt to achieve that in a very layered way using all the different things at my disposal — picture and sound. I’ve always loved films that approach sound in an impressionistic way and that is an unusual approach for a mainstream blockbuster, but I feel it’s the right approach for this experiential film. Nolan’s response viaTHR, for theInterstellarcriticism.
Unwilling to agree with the criticism ofDunkirk’s sound effects, Christopher Nolan revealed during aQ&Aat Lincoln Center how he deliberately used blaring noises to depict the harrowing evacuation of Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk during World War II. Expressing his ambition to capture the war experience in its most raw and immersive form, Nolan mentioned using auditory illusion to envelop viewers in the chaos and urgency of battle.
Speaking about grounding the viewer in the subjectivity of the soldiers, facing near-certain doom, trapped on the beaches ofDunkirk, Christopher Nolan explained how he deliberately used loud sounds to capture the feeling and intensity of the near-constant barrage of German gunfire and bombs. He further explained how, at the core of what fans felt was an auditory assault is the Shepard Tone, a sound illusion that creates the sensation of a continually rising pitch to amplify tension.
Christopher Nolan Was Amused After Real-Life Dunkirk Survivors Claimed Film’s Soundtrack Was Louder and More Terrifying Than Actual Bombs
Therefore, the filmmaker revealed how these particular techniques created an almost inescapable feeling of mounting anxiety, making each moment on screen pulse with a visceral intensity. The soundscape ofDunkirkthus became a relentless barrage, mimicking the deafening noise of bombs and gunfire, and putting the audience amid the action, struggling to keep pace with the characters’ desperation.
So it seems thatDunkirkand evenInterstellarwere more than just any other critically acclaimed film; they were apparently auditory masterpieces plunging viewers into the essence of the storyline, and making them an integral part of the experience.
DunkirkandInterstellarare both available to watch on Prime Video.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3217
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
