The dystopian film “Civil War” debuted on April 12 almost as a futuristic warning to Americansof a divided nation. The movie is in the action and thriller genre with an R-rating “for strong violent content, bloody/disturbing images, and language throughout,” according to IMDb. 

The basic plot consisted of following photojournalists working to capture moments of Americans fighting with one another. A24 produced it with director Alex Garland, known for films such as “Annihilation,” released in 2018. The movie stars Kirsten Durst as the main character, Lee Smith, and Cailee Spaeny as Jessie. 

The film starts with a President of the United States, known to be serving his third term of office. 

There is a big red flag there, as presidents are restricted to two terms per the 22nd Amendment, implying corruption in the government. Then, the movie transitions to following a photojournalist named Lee Smith, who captures photos of protests and uprisings in New York against police forces. We learn that California and Texas have become allies, revolting against the government and calling themselves the ‘Western Forces.’ From there, Smith heads to D.C. with a group of peers, hoping to interview the president and capture photos.

Based on the trailers I had watched previously, I expected to be fully immersed in the war. However, perspective is unique to this film. The protagonist was not a soldier or hero, rather, it consisted of a group of journalists who were not directly involved or on a specific side of the conflict.

This was a shock to me but by no means an unpleasant one. It was refreshing to dive into a journalist’s point of view, trying to document the events and advance their careers amidst the disaster happening in the U.S. Highlighting journalists showed us how powerful the media can be in keeping our country informed and how needed they are in our society.

While the film does not follow soldiers or troops, watching the journalists does not spare you any violence or apprehension. You’ll be clinging to the edge of your seat, mouth covered, awaiting the next scene with wide eyes.

Throughout the film, I still had no clue who I should root for. No one clearly states whether they support the president or the Western Forces. But that may have been the point, as both troops created bloodshed and terror, which shows how disastrous a civil war would be for America. Neither side was necessarily good or bad; rather, the war played the villain.

The film also included photos that the journalists were capturing. They ranged from images of protests, soldiers dying and deserted landscapes. Each photo evoked an emotion of sadness or unease as they came up on the big screen, and it brought the scenes to life.

The production worked to make the film as eerily realistic as possible. Actors fired real firearms for gunshot sounds in the movie, shooting blanks. This is typically uncommon for films; however, Garland wanted it to be close to reality. After watching it in IMAX, I can attest that the shots were extremely convincing.

The majority of the scenes left a lasting impression. Watching the Lincoln Memorial and the White House being destroyed in the movie by its own citizens was disheartening. These landmarks represent our country and the power we hold as a nation.

While the film only showed occurrences on the East Coast, we can speculate that NATO would lose America as its biggest ally due to the division. The domestic destruction would leave us defenseless to foreign powers control, which raises the question of what other horrors a real civil war would unlock.

At the end of the movie, I was left feeling a sense of unease. Our greatest enemy is proven to be ourselves as we crumble from within. Is this what lies ahead for the future of America? With our political differences dividing the nation already, a civil war does not seem that far-fetched. While physically dividing the country is extreme, I hope it encourages Americans tocling close and stay united. One nation under all.

Tags:

---

About Heather Hershfield

More articles by Heather Hershfield