In “Civil War,” America descends into chaos

The President of the United States prepares for a televised speech. He wants to talk about patriotism and the strength of the American people. But in the background we see images of riots, armed police and street battles.

There is a bloody war going on. Texas, California, and Florida are going against the federal government and the rest of the country. The conflict claims many victims. Bombs fall on cities, and people flee in terror. Through this hell, four journalists try to reach Washington to interview the president.

Second American Civil War

They are the main characters in the novel “Civil War” by Alex Garland. Old Sammy, who's been through a lot, my photographer, the war correspondent Joel. The youngest is aspiring journalist Jessie, with a camera borrowed from her father, who sees an opportunity for her career in war coverage. War correspondents are a special nation. They are fearless and risk their lives for the sake of a good image and an important relationship. What if Lee, played brilliantly by Kirsten Dunst, said to herself after every war: “This is the last time”? These people have a need for adrenaline. When conflict breaks out, they pack their gear and move. Young Jessie also needs to toughen up if she wants to succeed in this career. But this time it's about a special war: not a war taking place on another continent, but a war from our own, breaking out close to home, and claiming hundreds of lives.

British writer, screenwriter and director Alex Garland, 64, made his debut in 1996 with the novel “The Beach,” which was adapted for the screen by Danny Boyle with Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role. Kino reached out to him immediately. He was a screenwriter, among other things. Boyle's next films are “28 Days”, “Sunshine” and “Dredd” directed by Pete Travis. In 2014, he made his directorial debut with the film “Ex Machina”, which revolves around a young computer scientist experimenting with artificial intelligence, and four years later he presented the film “Annihilation” with Natalie Portman in the lead role. Here he is plunged back into a dangerous world where the laws of nature do not apply. Critics have described the film as a psychological sci-fi horror film, and that description says a lot about Garland's interests.