The darkest chapter in United States history has never been far from Hollywood’s imagination. From “Gone with the Wind” to “Glory” and “Lincoln,” films have brought us the barbarity and politics of the Civil War. But what if the bloody conflict of the 19th century was merely our first civil war?
This is the premise of the new film, “Civil War” (Guerra Civil), which premieres this Friday (12). It is an unflinching and relentless look at a divided and violent nation, not in the 1860s, but today.
“Civil War” is a tense thriller set in the near future as society collapses in the United States and war begins. The fictional Reuters photographer Lee (Kirsten Dunst) and reporter Joel (Wagner Moura) hit the road with the goal of reaching Washington to interview the president before the nation’s capital falls into the hands of a rebel faction.
The film’s director, Englishman Alex Garland (whose credits include “Ex Machina” and “Annihilation”), said that the reason his new film is unsettling is that “it’s a film about the product of the polarization and division” we live in today.
Garland’s story does not explain how the war starts – and, to some extent, who the good guys or bad guys are. We are left with an intentionally vague film. He wanted this story to be seen through the eyes of the reporters.
“Something happened, something really sad and dangerous happened to journalism,” Garland said in an interview.
“The reason I put them (the journalists) at the center of the film is that there are really good journalists out there doing good work. They don’t have the power they used to have,” he said.
For Brazilian actor Wagner Moura, who previously portrayed Pablo Escobar in Netflix’s “Narcos,” journalism has a role to play in combating polarization in society.
“People like to get information from social media and all the fake news. Progressives only read progressive things and conservatives are the same… I think the role of the journalist in the world is very, very important,” he said.
Wagner Moura in American Cinema
With a prolific career in Brazil, including the role of the indefatigable Captain Nascimento in “Elite Squad,” Wagner Moura has been part of other international productions. His most famous contribution was as the interpreter of drug lord and narcoterrorist Pablo Escobar in the Netflix series “Narcos.” With three seasons, the production ran from 2015 to 2021 and sought to tell the true story of the spread of cocaine in the United States and Europe, thanks to the drug from the Medellín Cartel, led by Pablo Escobar.
Wagner Moura also appeared in “Elysium” alongside Alice Braga, another Brazilian, and names like Matt Damon and William Fichtner. The plot is set in 2154, when the wealthiest live in a space station while the rest of the population resides on a ruined Earth. Against this backdrop, a man takes on the mission of trying to bring equality to the polarized worlds.
Another international participation of Moura is “Wasp Network: Rede de Espiões,” from 2019. The plot features Cuban spies infiltrating exile groups to stop terrorism against Cuba. However, the price to pay for this is high. In addition to Wagner Moura, the film features Penélope Cruz and Ana de Armas.
“Sergio,” from 2020, features Wagner Moura in the role of diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello alongside actress Ana de Armas. According to the official synopsis, passions, ideals, and a terrible reality threaten the diplomat’s life during his mission in Iraq for the UN.
Source: CNN