The upcoming release of A24It is Civil war In a contentious presidential election year, there are worries about the prospect of a real civil war – or, at least, real political violence – and questions about the film's timing.
The film by famous writer-director Alex Garland (Ex Machina) imagine a dystopia in the near future where the United States was torn apart under the authoritarian rule of a three-term president (Nick Offerman). The story follows a journalist (Kirsten Dunst) as she travels through this freshly divided state of America (trailer below).
Civil war has not yet been seen by media or audiences (its world premiere is next week at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival), so criticism of its content is arguably premature and – at minimum – lacking context considerable. The film's trailers suggest Civil war This is not an obvious controversy between left and right given that Texas and California are allies in this fictional conflict. Yet given the January 6 riots that attempted to decertify the 2020 presidential election and the likelihood of a rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, some find it impossible not to see the film as a pointed commentary on our current era of division. – regardless of its fictional premise – and questioning whether its publication is appropriate seven months before the presidential election.
Most of these reactions to Civil war seem to come from the left side of the political spectrum, and their point of view is this: Regardless of the direction of the film (presumably pro-unity), the film is uncomfortably timely and his “us against us” war will become MAGA fantasy fuel.
“The thought of another American Civil War happening today keeps me up at night. » wrote one reader on one American Civil War subreddit. “It’s a film I want to stay away from. Even if this is based on a political scenario very far from ours. I just don't want to entertain the idea of something so horrible.
“A movie about a second American Civil War during an election year in which the second American Civil War is a serious concern among law enforcement and rational people?” wrote another.
Another opined: “There are other Timothy McVeighs who will say '(this film is) exactly what this country needs'… The potential danger is that the (right-wing) groups are not known for their media culture or their nuances. And a psychotic gang of rednecks who commit acts of terrorism (in the film) to “take over the liberals” might be an obvious criticism to us, but could be interpreted as a model for MAGA groups if not not described carefully.' »
“I know a ton of people (probably myself included) who don't want to see it because it's just a little uncomfortable watching a movie that we might experience in 4-5 years,” added another. “Unless this movie does something really clever with the premise, it's basically just political porn. Use current political tensions as a crutch to get people emotionally invested.
Although concerns related to the civil war may seem marginal, a 2022 survey by YouGov and the Economist found that 40 percent of Americans think another civil war is “at least somewhat likely within the next 10 years.” A Zogby survey found similar. That the number drops to 14 percent when you only include those who “firmly” believe in it. Last week, Ru Paul made the headlines by declaring in a New Yorker profile that the United States is “moments away from a fucking civil war.” I fear the worst. All the signs are there.”
Fears of civil war are worrying enough to The New York Times has held a debate on the subject, while Policy announcement in a recent headline, “the threat of civil collapse is real.” However, historians assure that it was a real civil war “it's really unlikely“, although one added worriedly: “There are so many bad things that can happen long before a civil war. ”
There are some on the right who have a different point of view on the film's release. Some conspiratorial people think the film is “predictive programming” broadcast because they (there's always a “they”) are preparing the public for what's to come, namely the Biden administration going to war with Southern states like Texas over the border crisis. Given that Texas Governor Greg Abbott's feud over border security has recently inspired veritable “civil war” headlines in the newspapers. respectable publicationsWe can understand this concern to some extent (but not why the government would collaborate with a Hollywood studio to create a film to inform moviegoers of their sinister plans).
“Civil War coming out in April is no coincidence” wrote a self-proclaimed Trump supporter. “They are literally projecting exactly where we are going. Texas protecting our southern border will be the catalyst that triggers this situation. We are entering a dark phase in our history and the current traitor-in-chief is absolutely to blame.”
There is even a third faction online that isn't necessarily right or left, but is simply skeptical that the film will have any noticeable impact on the real world. A Reddit thread predict it online Civil war the debate will resemble the uproar that surrounded Todd Philips' film in 2019 Joker — the media were concerned that Movies Taxi driver— a likeness of a destructive outsider would have inspired violent loners and incel types to commit mass shootings, and then nothing happened.
Either way, such an early debate could be good news for A24. Civil war — which debuts April 12 — would be the popular indie studio’s most expensive production to date and, given its level of investment, “A24 needs it works,” said one industry insider. THE Joker The media frenzy helped propel the film to over $1 billion at the box office.
One commentator, however, argued that the film's hot topicality could backfire if – heaven forbid – real-world violence occurs. In 2019, Universal made the dramatic decision to preemptively remove its Red State/Blue State hunger games-as a satire The hunt of his release ahead of the 2020 election year after being accused of being politically inflammatory. The studio finally released the film six months later.
“I know why they're releasing it in an election year, but it also seems a little stupid to release it in an election year as politically volatile as this one,” one reader wrote. “Not just for moral reasons (I fear a film like this will only inflame things), but also because if any form of political violence occurs, they will probably have to push back or remove it. I also think a lot of people are dreading the upcoming election, so seeing a movie about an American civil war probably doesn't sound like fun to them. This is way too horrible for me right now. (A24 had no comment on the film's release schedule).
However, some voices in the debate around the film are resolutely pro-Civil war. These voices make some assumptions about the film's content, but largely argue that the film should be released this year because it will likely do what sci-fi dystopias have done for decades: take on current anxieties and political or social trends disturbing and playing exposes them in a cathartic way and, hopefully, serves as a cautionary tale – much like how films throughout the Cold War dramatized the horrors of nuclear war.
“I guarantee you MAGA/Qanon people don't need an Alex Garland perpetrator to commit violence,” one defender wrote, while another added: “This movie is a warning of the danger of political brinkmanship, polarization and the importance of free and effective media. This is not at all a film for MAGA freaks to live out their fantasy. This is a direct indictment of their entire worldview…. If there was ever a time to scathingly criticize this form of political discourse, it is now, and that is exactly what this film will be.”