'Civil War': A Shot Worth a Thousand Images

 PREMIERE

The shots of the cameras camouflage among the bullets as if the image were the blood shed by lifeless bodies in their last reel to reveal.

In "Civil War," Garland paints a haunting picture of the near future, where truth is a precious commodity amidst the chaos of a nation on the brink of civil abyss. Garland skillfully intertwines narrative with action, merging the harsh reality of war with the internal struggle of those seeking to tell the truth, even as it fades into the shadows of discord.

Photographers are like soldiers of light in a dark battlefield, illuminated by flashes and dazzling lights, by shots and captures, by lens and sights. They face the same violence they seek to document and of which they are part. Amidst the roar of shots and the explosion of bombs, the protagonists emerge as recognizable figures, even if their faces are not as iconic as that of the president they serve. As one of the soldiers says halfway through the film, sides don't matter; what matters is who has the gun and who doesn't.

Cailee Spaeny is the future of the industry; her magnetic presence foretells a rise similar to that of Timothée Chalamet after successes like "Priscilla" or her upcoming appearance in "Alien: Romulus." Her captivating performance adds depth to an already formidable cast, elevating every scene she appears in.

Garland has found his space; after years of trial and error, he has forged an authorial seal that allows him to guide us through a world on the verge of collapse, where the line between the mundane and the tragic blurs into a single, somber reality. In his trajectory from "Ex Machina" to "Annihilation," "Civil War" stands as his new masterpiece, a testament to his ability to challenge and captivate audiences.

In this film, photojournalists stand as silent witnesses to humanity at its most decadent, reminding us that truth can be more powerful than any weapon. Garland urges us to reflect on the role of those who capture history through their lenses, while immersing us in a journey full of tension, anguish, and a palpable sense of urgency.

@lovacaine