Civil War Review: The Challenges Faced by Photojournalists

Upon hearing the title "Civil War," many might assume this film is connected to the Avengers or involves Marvel heroes. However, that assumption would be incorrect! "Civil War" explores the intense challenges journalists face while reporting on a civil war.

Set in a contemporary United States, the film portrays a devastatingly chaotic scenario with numerous casualties. Directed by Alex Garland, this dystopian film features Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and Cailee Spaeny as the leads.

Synopsis

The movie opens with a fierce conflict between the East and West that spreads across the United States. This civil war sees the involvement of an authoritarian federal government and various regional factions, pushing the country closer to total chaos.

The tension escalates when the president, portrayed by Nick Offerman and serving his third term as a dictator, announces during a live broadcast that the government will win. His declaration ignites the determination of regional factions to overthrow him.

Throughout this crisis, the media is omnipresent, with numerous outlets documenting the events. Prominent among the reporters is Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst), a legendary photojournalist working for Reuters. Her powerful photographs have made significant impacts on how the civil war is viewed.

Lee, accompanied by her partner Joel (Wagner Moura), heads to Brooklyn to capture the riots, a direct result of the ongoing conflict. It is here that Lee meets Jessie (Cailee Spaeny), a young and impulsive photojournalist.

Jessie, distracted while trying to capture the chaos, almost loses her life but is saved by Lee, who takes the opportunity to teach her about the realities of their profession. However, Jessie is in awe of Lee, whom she has always admired and seen as a role model.

Inspired by her admiration, Jessie persuades Joel to travel with them to Washington D.C. Their mission is to get an exclusive interview with the president before America could potentially be destroyed.

When Lee and Joel decided to head to Washington, senior journalist Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson) from The New York Times also wanted to join them. He was heading to Charlottesville to cover the news there and warned them that their mission was extremely risky.

Sammy urged Lee and Joel to think it over again, but Lee was determined to proceed, believing this could be her last big story. Feeling outnumbered, Sammy stopped trying to change their minds but reminded them to stay safe.

The next morning, Joel, Sammy, and Jessie were all ready in the car. Lee was surprised and upset to see Jessie joining them. She was concerned about the dangers they would face and didn't want Jessie to get hurt.

Despite her reservations, Lee allowed Jessie to come along to Washington under strict conditions. The mood was tense as they started their journey. Jessie sensed she wasn't welcome but was eager to follow Lee and gain valuable experience.

On their way to Washington, the situation worsened. They encountered massacres, firefights, and saw dead civilians and soldiers. They were even taken hostage by brutal loyalist forces.

Tragically, they lost two fellow journalists from Hong Kong and Sammy during an escape attempt. Lee was heartbroken over losing Sammy, her former mentor, and Joel was angry about losing two close friends.

Despite the grief, they had to continue. Motivated by what little spirit they had left, Lee, Joel, and Jessie joined forces with the Western Forces soldiers to march towards Washington D.C. and challenge the President.

During their journey, Jessie began taking risky photos that cause disruptions. Lee and Joel struggled to manage her actions as she sought the best shots. Meanwhile, Lee was briefly overwhelmed by post-traumatic stress.

After breaking into the White House, a fierce battle broke out between the Western soldiers and the Presidential Security Forces. Overwhelmed by the chaos, Lee couldn't bring herself to take any photos, while Jessie bravely pressed on with the Western Forces (WF), which, of course, risk her safety.

Lee’s worst fears came true when Jessie moved too close to the action and became a target for the Presidential Security Forces. Lee quickly stepped in to protect her but was fatally shot, leaving Jessie in shock.

Recovering from the shock, Jessie and Joel rejoined the WF troops and cornered the president in the Oval Office. The president pleaded for his life, saying, “Don’t let them kill me,” before the WF troops ended his life. Joel recorded his final plea as a notable quote for their story.

Witnessing this, Jessie managed to capture a photo of the WF troops, who were posing with a smile next to the president’s body.

The Life of a Journalist in the Field

Journalists will surely appreciate this film by Alex Garland. Alex masterfully depicts the harsh realities journalists face while covering war stories—traumatic and horrifying experiences that they might encounter any day, with death always a possibility.

The portrayal of the journalists, especially by Kirsten Dunst, is impressive. She plays a fearless, top-notch photographer. Alongside her partner, she bravely confronts numerous challenges without hesitation, though her character, Lee, ultimately suffers from stress.

Jessie, the Burden of Life

From the moment Jessie enters the film, I knew it already that this young woman will cause trouble. Indeed, her know-it-all attitude and excessive curiosity consistently endanger the group.

Her actions indirectly lead to the deaths of two of Joel's colleagues and Sammy, who is shot while trying to rescue her. In a tragic twist, she also becomes the catalyst for Lee’s death when Lee tries to save her. How can one justify such recklessness?

Modern-day Civil War Depiction

The film draws parallels to the historical Civil War in the United States from 1861 to 1865, which deeply impacted the country and left it paralyzed. This historical event likely inspired Alex Garland and A24 to create this film.

While the conflicts differ— the 1860s war stemmed from the North’s push to end slavery, and the film's war from a corrupt presidency and governmental betrayal— the film gives a modern take on civil strife.

It is an engaging film that narrates its story clearly, allowing the audience to easily follow the plot, despite some mid-movie drama that may feel tedious. In terms of visuals and sound, the film excels. It earns a rating of 3.8 out of 5 from Showpoiler!