Calls have been made in China to boycott the British war film Dunkirk after it was subjected to a heavy bombardment from critics who said a “disastrous retreat” does not conform with “Chinese values”.

The film came under fire not only for its portrayal of an un-Chinese evacuation, but also for glorifying General Sir Harold Alexander.

Gen Alexander, who helped oversee the 1940 ‘miracle of Dunkirk’, is considered a war hero in the UK, but is despised by some in China due to a belief that he caused the death of thousands of Chinese soldiers.

Christopher Nolan’s war drama premiered in China on Friday but recorded “gloomy numbers” in its opening weekend, the Global Times newspaper said.

“The film's tepid performance in the mainland, according to certain media outlets, has been attributed to the theme of the film - which praises an evacuation - not striking a chord with Chinese audiences,” said the newspaper, which is published by the People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party.