
Alex Garland, known for directing Ex Machina and co-writing 28 Years Later, helms Civil War, A24’s first big action film. However, staying true to A24’s style, it’s not a typical action movie filled with explosions and heroic moments. The film is set during a fictional second American Civil War, where the Western Forces (California and Texas) are fighting against the US Army and the President. It follows a team of war photographers as they rush to Washington D.C., hoping to capture images before the WF seizes the city and the President is killed. Their goal isn’t to stop the conflict, but to be the first to document it. Civil War is a brutal depiction of war and violence, but it also raises questions about the ethics of war photography. While it can inform the public about terrible events, it also profits from and potentially exploits the pain and trauma of others.