Kirsten Dunst from Civil War explains that the film ‘absolutely scared me’ | Entertainment and Art Updates

April 12, 2024 TruthUSA

Over 150 years have passed since the American Civil War, yet in Oscar-nominated director Alex Garland’s latest film, the present-day United States finds itself divided once more, with the country at war with itself.

In “Civil War,” Kirsten Dunst portrays photojournalist Lee, who ventures into the lawless frontlines to secure an exclusive interview with the president, played by Nick Offerman.

Despite the eerie similarities to current-day US politics following the January 6 attacks on the US Capitol, Dunst explained in an interview with Sky News that the film was not inspired by those events.

“Alex wrote this movie before that happened so it’s not based on that and I knew that information,” she said.

“Reading the script, it really terrified me as I was reading it… And so, for me, and in Alex Garland’s hands, I knew that he was going to make something really unique and special, and I wanted to be a part of that.”

She emphasized that while the film is relevant to current politics, it remains neutral and doesn’t take sides.

“This movie really allows the audience to bring their own selves into the theatre,” she said.

“It’s not talking about right and left or who is bad or good. It kind of leaves things for the person watching it to bring their own viewpoint.”

The film highlights the crucial role journalists play in reporting.

In addition to Dunst’s character Lee, Reuters reporter Joel (Wagner Moura), veteran New York Times reporter Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson), and aspiring photojournalist Jessie (Cailee Spaeny) are featured.

With a trend in recent films like “Leave the World Behind” and “The Way,” civil unrest and societal breakdown seem to be themes of interest.

Dunst believes this trend is a reflection of the media age we live in and journalism’s pursuit of larger audiences.

“I think these stories are about when polarisation gets too extreme and we stop listening to each other,” she said.

“With all the internet, media, all that stuff, it really feeds into it. And so I think that dystopian thing feels like a possibility in some ways.”

In 2021, the Office of The Director of National Intelligence listed violent militias as a lethal domestic extremist threat in the US and the film takes an unnerving look at the product of division.

In “Civil War,” Jesse Plemons portrays a murderous militant who poses a chilling question to the journalists: “What kind of American are you?”

Dunst, who is Plemons’s real-life wife, downplays the possibility of a civil war but acknowledges the underlying fear.

“I really believe that this polarisation is something that is kind of being said and heightened in a way which makes you believe more and more,” she said.

“And I think that those groups are very small, but also very scary.”

The film “Civil War” refrains from taking a clear stance. Instead, it brings a concept that seemed improbable for many years a step closer to reality.

“Civil War” will be available in cinemas from April 12.

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