"Civil War" feels closer to reality today

Alex Garland's film about journalists investigating a war-torn America captures the political split that has gripped the US in 2025.

By: Martin Romero, Special to the Star

"Civil War," an A24 war film directed by Alex Garland about a dystopian America engulfed in a second civil war, feels more relevant now than it did when it was released less than two years ago.

The story follows a group of journalists traveling across a fractured United States littered with bodies and raging firefights to Washington, D.C., as rebel forces advance on an authoritarian three-term president holed up in the White House. Populated places like New York City are shown facing power outages, devastating terrorist attacks and dwindling resources that force residents into long lines for water rations.

Lee (Kirsten Dunst) leads the group as a seasoned Reuters photojournalist whose cold focus guides the team through the war-torn country.

Meanwhile, Joel (Wagner Moura), a reporter hoping to interview the president before his inevitable execution, and Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson), an older and optimistic reporter from what remains of The New York Times, bring a warmer presence that softens the tension surrounding Lee.

However, the group's dynamic changes when Jessie (Cailee Spaeny), an inexperienced young photographer aspiring to be like Lee, joins them, forcing Lee to confront the weight of her own experience and the cost of the work she has carried for years.

Her eagerness and inexperience reshape the story by showing what drives journalists into dangerous spaces and what they risk losing once they enter them.

The film's cinematography does a great job capturing an America scarred by conflict through eerie, beautifully composed images that feel both cinematic and unsettlingly familiar.

Furthermore, the soundtrack is exceptional, pairing well with the film's dystopian scenes while staying subtle and respectful of its dark, serious themes.

The cast is what ultimately sells the film, grounding its large-scale conflict in performances that feel honest and lived-in.

Lee's steady experience as a veteran photojournalist contrasts with Jessie's naïve enthusiasm, creating a dynamic that reflects two very different ways of seeing the same war.

Yet, while the film is an exceptional watch, offering audiences a glimpse into the world of war photojournalists, one cannot help but see eerie parallels between scenes from the movie and those we've seen in the news.

Garland's "Civil War" feels like a cautionary reflection of the reality unfolding in major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, where military units such as the National Guard have been unleashed on protesters by the Trump administration.

Furthermore, the violence faced by Lee and her group at the hands of rogue government forces in the film echoes the increasing targeting of journalists by law enforcement agencies.

"Civil War" remains a striking film, with its sharp cinematography, grounded performances and tense pacing combining to create a world that feels both cinematic and unnervingly familiar.

Its unflinching portrayal of conflict gains strength over time, especially as its images echo events that have unfolded in American cities with increasing frequency.

Garland's direction gives the story clarity, allowing its warning to land without feeling exaggerated, even as the film leans into the chaos of a nation pushed to its limits.

In the end, "Civil War" stands as a gripping and unsettling reflection of a country on edge, a film that forces viewers to consider how quickly division can slide into something far more dangerous.