Leadership Lessons And Quotes From Christoper Nolan’s Dunkirk

A Reel Leadership Article

Christopher Nolan is back with a tale from World War 2. Dunkirk tells the story of French, Belgian, and British allied soldiers surrounded by the German army. Their evacuation was intense and the focus of Dunkirk.

Dunkirk is receiving praise from critics and moviegoers alike. People are loving what Christopher Nolan has offered up in Dunkirk.

Quotes and leadership lessons from Dunkirk

Me? Not so much. I found Dunkirk to be entertaining but shallow. Normally the shallowness wouldn’t bother me but for such an epic evacuation, I felt the story deserved more.

However, even though I didn’t love Dunkirk, that doesn’t mean I didn’t walk away without leadership lessons from Dunkirk. There were plenty of leadership lessons in Dunkirk and we’re about to dive into them.

Caution: Dunkirk spoilers below.

Leadership Lessons And Quotes From Dunkirk

1. Leaders need to give hope:

Dunkirk opens with a text introduction. The viewer learns what has happened.

Leadership Lessons And Quotes From Hacksaw Ridge

A Reel Leadership Article

Hacksaw Ridge is the story of WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, played by Andrew Garfield, who served during the Battle of Okinawa. Doss refused to wield a weapon or harm another person.

For this, his commanding officer had him court-martialed and attempted to expel him from the military.

Thankfully for those he was serving with, he wasn’t dishonorably discharged. By the end of the Battle of Okinawa, Doss had pulled 75 men from Hacksaw Ridge.

Because of his heroic efforts, Doss became the first Conscientious Objector in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

 

When I first heard the story of Doss, I couldn’t believe a man could be in the army and not pick up a weapon. This would seem like a given, even if he were to never shoot the gun.