Civil War
Switch on the news emanating from the United States & you'll soon realise where the inspiration sprung from for Alex Garland's latest film, Civil War. Set in a dystopian near-future America has come apart at the seams with warring factions all fighting for control of the once great empire. Audiences soon find themselves embedded in the thick of the action alongside a rag-tag group of journalists on a road trip through the remnants of American society's former glory.
Like much of Garland's previous work, Ex-Machina or Annihilation, the premise sets this story apart from other war epics. In Civil War, we're dropped into an already raging war as a final push towards the capital & an ending of hostilities fast approaches. Given this, we're given very little insight into the political or moral qualms that led to the fracturing of society. Presenting the film in this way Garland leaves it up to the audience to fill in the blanks through their interpretation & imagination, meaning that Civil War is incredibly effective & mailable to each individual's political leanings.
What we are told about this world though is that the President of The United States, played by Nick Offerman, is now in his third term, has disbanded the FBI & even authorised the use of drone strikes on US citizens. Facts that quickly flipped the script in my mind that the alliance of Texas, California & Florida would be the aggressors.
However, the political machinations of the film ultimately prove to be secondary to the story. Civil War's true focus is in the personal tales of the 4 journalists, as they embark on a journey to document the horrors of the war. The group, which consists of veteran war journalists Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst) & Joel (Wagner Moura), their mentor Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson), and aspiring photojournalist Jessie (Cailee Spaeny) soon find themselves attempting to stay alive while remaining impartial as they record history before their eyes.
As the film progresses, each journalist must overcome their own hurdles as they battle to keep their emotions at bay. This makes Civil War at first come across as cold & callous, but we soon learn it's the only way to survive in a time where you never truly feel safe.
Emotions do occasionally break through the dams though, & these moments are gut-wrenching to witness. Alex Garland's use of sound & visual techniques elevates these moments to the absolute peak. The use of silence as we witness the signs of fear or grief rippling through the actor’s faces & bodies is incredibly powerful.
Civil War is an overwhelming film emotionally, sonically & visually. It is a testament to the importance of journalists in the most difficult of circumstances. Overwhelmingly though, Civil War makes you feel like you are right in the heart of battle during an eerily feasible future. A must-watch in cinemas for the full impact.
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