Mr. Alex Garland’s riveting war film, Civil War, premiered April 12 and sparked an adrenaline rush in audience members nationwide.  This A24 production immerses viewers in a dystopian yet modern United States (US), offering a chilling glimpse into a radically divided nation.  Before the film debuted, movie websites and social media users voiced that Civil War would glorify violence and promote controversy this election year upon viewing the promotions and trailers for the new film, according to The New York Times.  While the film does present numerous graphically violent scenes, Mr. Garland wisely avoids directly referring to today’s political climate to tell a more universal story of war and brutality.  Ultimately, Civil War recounts a grim, cautionary tale in which Mr. Garland spotlights contemporary socio-political contexts and explores humanity amidst conflict to remind viewers of the eerie reality that could prevail.

While the film broadly follows the outbreaks of violence that ripple throughout the dystopic US, Civil War focuses on a group of journalists who risk their lives to capture frames of the graphic sights surrounding them.  Mrs. Kirsten Dunst portrays the film’s protagonist, Lee Smith, a photojournalist who dedicates her career to capturing scenes of war and violence.  At the beginning of the film, Lee broods over the brutality she has seen.  Mr. Garland portrays her as numb to such sights as she seems not to show much emotion when capturing such violent scenes.  However, as death consumes the entirety of her life, Lee’s mental state decays, stressing the danger of desensitization and acceptance of violence in society.

Along with Lee’s colleagues, Ms. Cailee Spaeny plays the role of Jesse, a young aspiring photojournalist who idolizes Lee.  In the footsteps of her hero, Jesse aims to become a war photographer.  Consequently, she comes to recognize the pain that Lee endures on the other side of the lens.  In one scene, upon facing a particularly grotesque sight of death, Jesse emotionally reacts by crying.  In response, Lee and her colleagues scoff.  This scene embodies the tone of the film as it depicts the lack of empathy and solace in such heightened times of war and violence.

Alongside the lack of emotion in characters, Mr. Garland provides viewers with a purposely ambiguous portrayal of the socio-political climate of the US, according to forbes.com.  As lifeless bodies scatter the country’s soil, alongside bullet casings and abandoned bombs, the audience faces a brutal wake-up call to what could be in store if the lack of empathy and compromise of socio-political matters persists.  Additionally, while the public assumed that the film would spotlight combat between current political parties, such as Democrats and Republicans, the award-winning director stated that he aimed to inflict a sense of personal and socio-cultural understanding, not necessarily a political one.

“America’s divisions are echoed almost precisely in many countries around the world,” Mr. Garland said, according to hollywoodreporter.com.  “In the case of America, there’s an extra danger given its power and importance in the world.  America has an internal concept of its exceptionalism, which means it feels it’s immune to some kinds of problems.  One of the things history shows us is that nobody is immune.  Nobody is exceptional.  And if we don’t apply rationality and decency and thoughtfulness to these problems in any place, it can get out of control.”

While the film does not explicitly state why violence pervades throughout the country, the audience comes to understand that the nation’s divided factions combine with authoritarian tactics, causing states to advocate for secession.  Mr. Nick Offerman portrays the President of the US, who clings to power for a third term and completely disregards the immense brutality all over the nation.  In fact, the President disbands the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), launches bombings on American cities, and takes pleasure in targeting journalists for execution, according to politico.com.

Additionally, the alliance between California and Texas forms the Western Front, while the Florida Alliance emerges as another faction.  However, it is sometimes unclear the side for which armed individuals are fighting.  While some wear military-style apparel, others wear civilian clothes with machine guns in hand, suggesting that their motives derive from a thrill of power or a yearning for survival instead of allegiance.

Mr. Garland’s film presents the absence of moral clarity and an extreme depiction of collective intransigence.  Through his showcase of scenes of disorder and violence, Mr. Garland provides the audience with a raw authenticity that is disturbing.  Amidst its turmoil, Civil War unveils the alarming reality of the depersonalization of individuals caught up in strife, be they soldiers or innocent civilians.  Amid war, characters such as Lee and Jesse become mere instruments in the larger scheme of violence and corruption, losing their humanity to the demands of battle.

Ultimately, as the credits roll and audience members emerge from the dim cinema, individuals leave with a profound sense of discomfort and reflection.  Civil War is a work of fiction, but its modern-day portrayal of war could be reality if the public refuses to compromise and understand rivaling socio-political opinions.  In truth, the film indicates that citizens must embrace a mindset of acceptance and alter their perceptions of individuals holding contrasting views and values from their own.

Featured Image by Ana Patricio ’24