Frank's Musings

“Civil War,” seems to portray the effects of the disintegration of rules-based civic order. It does not and probably could not analyze the psychological causes of that development. Moreover, beside the breakup of the American political federation, it apparently predicts the ungluing of the country’s cultural webbing.

In other words, the film shows the social effects of triumphant libertarianism in reaction to a power-grab by an authoritarian President.  It postulates that the benefits of a diverse and interdependent society are not clear to everyone. Could it be that the film’s box-office popularity and the chaos and violence it portrays will awaken the public to the danger of giving vent to childish solipsism and impatience with the obligations of responsible citizenship.

That is apparently the objective of Alex Garland, its writer and director.  The problem is that those who will pay to watch the film will likely be the Americans who have lost their willingness to submit to enlightened leadership or never had it in the first place.  They will enjoy the chaos it depicts rather than learn the lesson that political disorder must be avoided.  What Garland might better have portrayed were failed attempts to restore civic order and possible avenues of influence and persuasion that could more successfully quell civil warfare.  Framing the film in the eyes of news reporters covering the story probably enhances its credibility for critical audiences; but achieving Garland's cautionary goal demands not only a good film, but also an effective publicity campaign.