How does Dunkirk depict society?

When the commanders at Dunkirk are informed that the British government does not plan to send any destroyers or big ships to evacuate them, they became discouraged. It seems that they will die stranded on the beach. Soon enough, they find out that civilian boats are being requisitioned, but that promises little hope as they believe that there will not be enough boats to provide adequate support. Ultimately, the civilian boats are what save the day, as hundreds of boats appear on the horizon and help the soldiers get home. While Churchill had estimated their evacuation goal as 40,000, with the help of the civilian boats, the army manages to get over 300,000 troops home. The film explores the ways that small acts of service and help from ordinary people can make the difference in moments of crisis.