Opinion: ‘Civil War' is more than a reflection on America's divisions

“Civil War,” a film by Alex Garland, sparks discussions about America’s current partisan divisions. However, the movie’s message goes beyond politics, continuing the tradition of Americanizing wars. Set in a future where the US is divided, the film follows photojournalist Lee and journalist Joel as they venture into dangerous territory for a final interview. The political context in the film is deliberately ambiguous, highlighting the personal trauma and psychological harm experienced by American protagonists, rather than focusing on the political context. “Civil War” challenges traditional war movie narratives while simultaneously reproducing them. War photography plays a central role as it allows characters to witness and capture the horrors of war. Despite not directly addressing US foreign policy or nuclear weapons, the film questions the real dangers of American violence by portraying an inward-turning violent scenario under an authoritarian presidency.