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The highly anticipated dystopian drama, Civil War by Alex Garland, takes place in a divided America due to military conflict. The film begins with the president (Nick Offerman) practicing his lines as he prepares to address the nation. His speeches are filled with messages of strength and patriotism, accompanied by real news footage showing riots and heavily armed police. This hints at the current state of America in 2020 and beyond. Garland, known for his successful sci-fi films such as Ex Machina and Annihilation, only needs to show a glimpse of the present to convey the larger message.
For those concerned about the possibility of Civil War being too closely tied to the current political divide during an election year, there is some good news. The film premiered at the SXSW festival and addresses the issue, but ultimately veers away from overt political commentary. Instead, it focuses on combat journalists in the war zone and the complex ethical dilemmas they face. In a time of heightened tension and anxiety, Civil War takes a cool and critical stance, avoiding any clear connection to present-day politics or any political views in general.
The movie takes place during a war between Texas and California, who are allies on the “Western Front” along with Florida. The president, who is on their third term, has approved attacks on civilians using drones and has dismantled the FBI. We learn this through awkward conversations between journalists, but in this war, everyone is killing each other. Both sides have their own military and seem solely focused on winning. The main characters, including tough Lee (played by the talented Kirsten Dunst), thrill-seeker Joel (Wagner Moura), ambitious newcomer Jessie (Priscilla’s Cailee Spaeny), and leader Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson), are solely focused on completing their tasks, following the conflict, and gathering evidence.
The film Civil War is not just a war movie, but also a road movie, as the journalists travel from New York, which is a contested area where residents are desperate for water, through various states in the eastern United States to reach the frontline in Charlottesville and then Washington DC. Their ultimate objective is to secure an interview with the president, even though it seems like a futile effort. As a tense thriller, Civil War is incredibly effective – the director, Garland, skillfully portrays the conflicts and tensions between characters, especially when they encounter strangers along the way (since both sides are dressed in US army uniforms, it is often difficult to distinguish friend from foe). With its high production value, Civil War is A24’s most expensive project to date, and it certainly shows in the stunning and unsettling depiction of a war-torn suburban America – from a shellshocked JC Penney’s store to bodies hanging off a highway overpass to an eerie abandoned Christmas festival in the middle of summer. The film captures the disturbing perversion of Americans’ sense of stability through breathtaking and masterful visuals.
The movie Civil War presents an intellectual challenge by examining the harrowing effects of war and trauma. It portrays journalists as objective heroes and relies on the audience to form their own opinions on American politics instead of presenting a biased perspective. However, the detachment can make for a frustrating viewing experience as it focuses on adrenaline rather than emotions. The internal logic also feels flawed as it raises questions about the relevance of the journalists’ work in a future where there is no communication and shared reality is lost. Moreover, it seems improbable that there are no empathetic individuals in this group of journalists.
While it may be true that righteousness is of little importance to those caught in the chaos of war, the Civil War depicted in Garland’s work shows a strict indifference to motivation that can be unsettling, especially when considering the current ideological divide between political parties or the very real civil war in America’s history which centered around the issue of slavery and has been whitewashed over time as a debate on states’ rights. Garland’s Civil War lacks in well-developed characters and world-building, providing only visually striking but limited scenes of destruction – with the capital in flames, deserted highways, and a tense showdown at the White House. These images portray the brutality of war, but fail to reveal the complex emotions and thoughts driving those involved.
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The film Civil War will be shown at the SXSW festival and will also be available in theaters in the US and UK starting on April 12th.
Source: theguardian.com
