Kirsten Dunst details “disturbing” ‘Civil War’ scene with Jesse Plemons
Civil War was likely not an easy movie to shoot. Aside from the obvious logistical challenges, the subject matter is immensely thought-provoking, with many of the accompanying roles, as lead actor Kirsten Dunst put it, having a “disturbing” purpose.
28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland helmed the movie, which stars Dunst as a photojournalist amid the conflict of an American Civil War. During this time, California and Texas create an alliance to attempt to overthrow the government, which leads to many of the country’s citizens feeling trapped in their own country.
Dunst’s character, Lee, makes it her mission to document the truth while navigating the incredibly complex realm of internal American politics. Her husband, Jesse Plemons, plays a soldier in the movie, taking on a part that he normally “wouldn’t play.”
In one particular scene, Dunst describes her character’s interaction with Plemons, calling it “one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen.” Civil War marks the third time the pair have worked together on screen, but this movie, in particular, provided a significant challenge.
Discussing her husband’s role, Dunst said that he “did a favour” taking the role because it “is a really disturbing role to play,” one that he wasn’t “jumping at the chance to play.” On set, she described the moment he turned up as difficult, adding that “it was just very, very tense and emotional for everybody filming that scene.”
“It’s really the turning point of the whole film,” Dunst continues. The scene in question involves Plemons’ character holding a gun and confronting Lee and her accompanying crew. In an effort to diffuse the situation, one of the crew members claims there to have been a “misunderstanding”, before reassuring Plemons they are all American. In response, he asks: “Ok, what kind of American are you?”
Wagner Moura, who plays another journalist in the movie, said he was left feeling “destroyed” after that particular scene, explaining that it “affected” him on “a very personal level.”
Despite the challenges, however, Dunst says that the movie is an entirely immersive experience guaranteed to make viewers feel like they are actually there. This is, in part, due to Garland’s directorial decisions, which ensured that the cameras weren’t too intrusive and the actors felt like they were being observed rather than spotlighted.
“I mean, a lot of the time, it didn’t feel like we were really acting, especially in the third act,” Dunst told Entertainment Tonight, describing the ways her “survival instincts just kicked in” due to the “level of noise” that was present on set. While this may seem like an extreme environment to be a part of as an actor, Dunst describes it as “a real gift to us as actors.”
Civil War is slated for release on April 12th, 2024. Watch the trailer below.
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