Written by Ally Abruscato, Photograph courtesy of Entertainment Weekly.
Alex Garland’s “Civil War,” not to be confused with “Captain America: Civil War,” hit theaters last month and has proven to be a divisive film. The film takes place in a dystopian America following a group of journalists as they make their way to Washington, D.C., hoping to interview and photograph the President of the United States. What might appear like a typical dystopian war movie proves to be much more as the plot focuses on the journalists, rather than the conflict itself.
The film follows two photographers and reporters, played by Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaney, and Stephen McKinley Henderson, as they journey through a war-torn United States. As they pass through different cities, they aim to capture the violence and cruelty of what is happening around them. Putting themselves at risk, they join soldiers in battle to get the perfect shot. The young photographer, Jesse, played by Spaney, struggles to cope with the endless violence she is seeing for the first time. The veteran journalists constantly remind her that their job is to objectively photograph a scene to share the truth with the world.
As a photographer myself, I found this conversation particularly reflective of reality. Although, in theory, a photojournalist’s job is to be as objective as they can, it is an impossible task. “Civil War” does a great job of showcasing this truth. Any image is subjective because the photographer chooses what to leave in and out of frame. They choose when to snap the picture and what to focus on. No matter how hard they try, there will always be a little bit of the photographer in their photograph. “Civil War” highlights this by showing the pictures the photographers take during the combat. Jesse photographs on black and white film while her mentor, Lee, played by Dunst, photographs with a digital camera in color. The dramatic and intense incidents are broken up by still images that display how either photographer viewed the scene. These moments provide a moment of perceived tranquility among the deafening sounds and sights of a civil war. When the chaos resumes, the audience is forced back into the violence, reminding them that photos can only capture a mere second of the cruelty taking place. Besides the objectivity of photography, “Civil War” also questions the ethics of journalism as a whole. When placed in difficult and dangerous situations, journalists are forced to choose between capturing the moment as it is or interfering in an attempt to save a life.
This movie had plenty of moments that left me with my mouth wide open. Be aware that some gruesome incidents are challenging to watch. The sincerity and depth of the actors create a movie that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seats. The movie is visually astounding and each shot seems to be carefully constructed, as if the photographers themselves staged them.
Some argue that “Civil War” has no real depth beyond its flashy visuals as it fails to break down the conflict that created the war and what has brought the country to this point. However, I don’t see the war as the central topic of the movie. I didn’t mind that the conflict was left unexplained because there are plenty of situations that could lead the US to a civil war. But that is not the point of this particular movie.
Garland’s “Civil War” aims to show the complexity of journalism. While this, obviously, appeals to me, I think it can hit the heart of every viewer in an increasingly digitally connected world. With cell phones, everyone has the opportunity to capture newsworthy moments. “Civil War” questions how important, or unimportant, capturing those moments can be. For an inquisitive and dramatic viewing, I highly recommend going to theaters to see “Civil War.”
As Editor-in-Chief, Ally Abruscato leads and supports a talented group of staff and contributors in pursuing their creative endeavors. At SCAD, Ally majors in Photography and minors in Advertising & Branding. She regularly offers pop culture insights through movie reviews, articles and her weekly column, “I’m Booked.” When she’s not writing or taking photos, Ally’s probably outside, reading or running.
