What's So Civil About War Anyway

 

I cried watching the events of January 6, 2021. I remember sitting in the bedroom by myself, watching the television as hundreds of supporters of President Trump stormed the US Capitol building, with the hopes of at a minimum disrupting the process of formally recognizing Joe Biden's election as the 46th President of the United States. Members of Congress sheltered in place. There was a feeling of terror and dread, and things went from bad to worse quickly. I cried because in a free democracy this sort of thing does not happen.

Last weekend I went to see Alex Garland's latest film Civil War. Two of Garland's previous films, Ex Machina and Annihilation, were terrific, so even though the subject of this movie was going to be brutal I knew I had to see it. I was right. One thing that makes this film unique, which has often been criticized, is it says nothing about the events that led to, our followed, the civil war. It also does not make obvious connections to the current reality of the US, or its references are so under the table as to be aloof from where we are in the "real world." Some reviewers have found this stance frustrating or infuriating. 

We begin with the President of the US practicing before nationwide address, speaking about one of the greatest military victories of all time. We hear references to an alliance between Texas and California. Combatants run around in camo, carrying AR-15 type weapons, shooting at each other, but we don't know why. Sometimes people wear uniforms, sometimes not, and we do not know who is right or wrong. The armies have tanks and helicopters. It's full scale chaos.

The movie follows several reporters traveling through destroyed towns, torn up interstates, wreckage all around. Other times we drive through small towns where people are totally unaware of the war, or they have mentally erected barriers to keep the war away. But snipers linger on the rooftops of Main Street just in case things go bad. There are scenes at a gas station, the remains of an outdoor Christmas market, an anonymous field, driving through a forest where trees have been set on fire, that I will not soon forget.

For nearly every minute of the film, I was filled with dread. Not so much for the characters in the film, but for the state of our nation. I am tired of labels like divided. We are not divided. We are openly hostile. Everyone is armed. I sense danger just about everywhere, and we seem so disinterested in doing anything about it. I wonder how close we are to something like Civil War. And of course the film was released in an election year.

It's a great movie. It's not a feel good, popcorn eating type experience. It's almost like a documentary of a possible future that is much closer than we fear. After the movie, I was wrecked. I had to take my wife Christy out for dinner and dessert, just to be reminded there are sweet, kind, loving people around us.

Going to lay down my sword and shield,

Down by the riverside,

Down by the riverside,

Down by the riverside;

Going to lay down my sword and shield,

Down by the riverside,

Going to study war no more.

Chorus:

I ain't goingt' study war no more,

Ain't goingt' study war no more,

Ain't goingt' study war no more.

Ain't goingt' study war no more,

Ain't goingt' study war no more,

Ain't goingt' study war no more.