Civil War Director Explains Key Element of the Film

Alex Garland's Civil War marked history for A24 as it became the indie studio's highest-grossing opening weekend ever.

The film - which follows Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny and Stephen McKinley Henderson as journalists - is a road movie which journeys through a war-torn North America as the group race against the clock to reach DC before rebels descend upon the White House.

Now, the director has explained one aspect of Civil War that has had audiences scratching their heads.

One key element of the film is the allyship between Texas and California, two states that - in real life - have completely divided political opinions.

Garland explains to Discussing Film that "There is a fascist president. The president is killing their own citizens. Then what happens is two states who are in different political positions are saying, 'We are more concerned about a fascist constitution smashing violent president. We are more concerned about that than we are about our political differences'".

Garland also explained the journalist's position in the film, saying, "The film is about journalists doing old-fashioned reporting. I'm trying to echo that form of reporting, and I would be breaking that form of reporting if I started throwing bias all over. And, on top of that, would be dismantling the argument within the film, which is that polarization is not a good thing."

The lack of bias in the film has had audiences, themselves, polarized, with many saying it is not the time in history to be sitting on the fence. Others have enjoyed this unique spin and welcomed its stance.

Related: Civil War Review: Ahead of Its Time and Years Too Late

Civil War hit theaters on April 12 following its premiere in March at the SXSW Film Festival.