Darkest Hour

Starring: Gary Oldman, Lily James, Kristin Scott Thomas.

Directed by Joe Wright.

 Darkest Hour could be seen as a companion piece to Dunkirk. Both feature the Dunkirk evacuation but from different standpoints: one is the battlefield, the other's more in the war room. But both film use history to slyly comment on the present.
We seem to find ourselves looking back at Winston Churchill a lot these days. Modern depictions tend to emphasize the legendary Prime Minister's quirks and periods of unpopularity.
The best historical fiction onscreen today takes care to diligently report the unglamorous or ugly truth that used to get glossed over. And these days, we like to focus on less obvious or known histories. But underneath these trappings of historical accuracy and a critical viewpoint, in these stories about Churchill there's also a nostalgia a longing for a leader with character.
Some might fear that today is one of the UK's darkest hours as they prepare for Brexit.
Darkest Hour shows that when you fear for your country, you look back to the past for answers.

Also like Dunkirk, Darkest Hour highlights the importance and influence of everyday civilians.

Churchill get inspired by his young secretary and people he meets on the tube. And they're a bit part of why he continues to fight against Nazi Germany instead of entering peace negotiations.

So, the film is telling us that everyday people like this have power to influence the direction of their country, and they can wield that power for better or for worse. It's saying that it's up to us to shape history and fight as hard as possible to ensure that we come out on the other side of our "darkest hours".