Released in theaters on April 17, “Civil War” takes place in the near future. But it recalls a recent event in the History of the United States, which influenced the film according to its director Alex Garland.
Although set in the near (and indeterminate) future, Civil War often seems plausible since it is based on images of conflicts that are now familiar to us, but out of place in the United States. Where a group of photojournalists led by Kirsten Dunst must cross the country.
But its director Alex Garland refuses to make specific reference to a person or an event. Even if the President played by Nick Offerman has some false airs of Donald Trump, some of whose rhetoric he uses in the speech that opens the film. And it is difficult not to think of the assault on the Capitol, which occurred in January 2021, in front of certain scenes.
Although he does not deny this influence, when we discuss it with him in London, Alex Garland nevertheless tempers the place this event occupies in the genesis of his fourth feature film as director: “It was written before, about four years ago”he answers us. “The first draft dates from June 2020.”
“The assault on the Capitol was treated and seen as if it was a disgrace, and it was. It was a disgrace.”
“But did it have an effect on the film? Of course! Not on the writing, but on me. And I know it had an effect on a lot of people who worked on it. One of the real effects of that day was to make people angry. It was treated and seen as if it was a shame, and it was. It was a shame.
“So it was impossible for a group of people not to be affected by this.” From there to saying that Civil War is not as much of a science fiction film as one might think, there is only one step… which Alex Garland takes halfway: “He’s talking about things that are not impossible, so I would say ‘yes and no'” Atmosphere, a few months before the American presidential election.
Comments collected by Maximilien Pierrette in London on March 26, 2024 – Editing: Constance Mathews