Civil War
The Civil War 2024 dystopian film written and directed by Alex Garland. It centers on a group of journalists traversing the country while multiple regional groups and an authoritarian central authority fight a civil war. Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Sonoya Mizuno, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Nick Offerman are among the cast members.
2022 saw the start of principal filming in Atlanta, Georgia, with production subsequently shifting to London. On March 14, 2024, Civil War made its South by Southwest debut. On April 12, 2024, A24 and Entertainment Film Distributors respectively, distributed the film nationwide in theaters. Civil War is the most costly movie that A24 has produced to date, with a $50 million budget. It has made close to $96 million in revenue worldwide thus far.
Critics gave Civil War favorable reviews, praising Garland’s directorial decisions—such as using handheld video—and the movie’s portrayal of combat. Regarding the film’s treatment of modern political issues, such as worries about the erosion of democracy and growing political divisiveness, it garnered both positive and negative reviews.
Plot of the Movie
There is a civil war going on between the US administration and several factions in the region. The president, who is currently in his third term, asserts that triumph is imminent. Aspiring photojournalist Jessie Cullen is saved from a suicide bombing in Brooklyn by renowned war photographer Lee Smith.
Before the city collapses, Lee and her colleague Joel plan to visit Washington, D.C. to speak with and take pictures of the president. Sammy, Lee’s tutor, requests to go with them to Charlottesville, where the Texas and Californian Western Forces (“WF”) are gathering for a last-ditch assault. Lee is hesitant, but Joel and she agree. Lee doesn’t know that Joel is talked into bringing her along by Jessie.
The gang leaves the city and stops at a remote gas station guarded by armed men. Because the US dollar has lost value due to the conflict, they purchase petrol there using Canadian dollars. After Jessie sneaks into a local car wash, she discovers the proprietors torturing two guys, accusing them of robbing the establishment. As Jessie is being followed by one owner, Lee diffuses the tension by snapping a picture of the man posing with his victims. Once they’re gone, Jessie criticizes herself for being overly photo-averse.
After spending the night close to the continuing conflict, the group records the battle the next day as militiamen attack a structure that is occupied by loyalists. Lee recognizes Jessie’s ability as a combat photographer, and Jessie takes pictures of the militia carrying out the execution of captured loyalist soldiers. Moving on, the gang stays overnight at a camp for refugees before traveling through a little village where people try to live in blissful ignorance while being closely watched. When they put on clothing at a nearby store, Lee and Jessie become closer.
Later, among the ruins of a Christmas fair, they are hit by gunfire and held down. Joel tries to find out whose party they are fighting for, but the snipers make fun of him and tell him that they are only trying to live, along with another sniper in a neighboring house. As Jessie observes more fatalities and becomes closer to Lee as a mentor, her courage increases and her photographic abilities advance. When Jessie wonders if Lee would take a picture of herself dying, Lee answers, “What do you think?” insinuating that she would.
The four run into Tony and Bohai, two other reporters they know, as they are driving. Tony and Jessie jokingly trade cars, but before long, Bohai and Jessie are taken prisoner by loyalist execution squads disposing of civilian bodies in a mass grave. When Tony responds, “Hong Kong,” the terrorist who killed Bohai asks where the others are from and murders him. The rest of the group attempts to stop him. After Sammy runs over two of the militants, he rescues the group, but a third shoots him, killing him as they rush away.
Upon reaching the WF military camp in Charlottesville, the gang experiences many forms of grief. Lee snaps a picture of Sammy’s body but quickly removes it. Joel starts becoming frantic after drinking alcohol. Jessie looks around the campground. The group is informed by two other reporters that a Western invasion is on the horizon and that the government’s senior generals have mostly capitulated, leaving Washington essentially undefended. As Jessie’s shooting gets riskier, they follow the WF into Washington. Lee is unable to shoot photos while experiencing a brief bout of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The presidential limousine makes an abortive attempt to escape the besieged city, but after it crashes, Lee surmises that the president is still within the structure and takes her party inside. A WF team comes next and engages in combat with the remaining Secret Service agents, one of whom is stationed in the pressroom and is trying in vain to arrange for the president to be transported safely to Greenland or Alaska. Lee rushes Jessie to safety after she puts herself at danger to take a picture of the subsequent firefight in the West Wing. As Lee is shot dead in the crossfire, Jessie takes pictures of her.
The president is apprehended by the Western forces in the Oval Office. Joel asks them to hold off while he obtains a quotation. The unkempt president pleads with Joel to spare him, imploring, “Don’t let them kill me.” Joel answers, “Yes. That will suffice. Jessie snaps a picture of the president’s quick execution while his body is posed by grinning WF troops.
