Alex Garland’s 2024 Civil War still lives on in our memories, and nightmares, as one of the most unsettling films of the 21st century. Since filming for the intense war thriller drama focused on realism, star actress Kirsten Dunst has been open about how the role took a toll on her, especially when having to film opposite her husband Jesse Plemons in one of the most tense and traumatic scenes of the film.
The Power of the Dog actress has publicly stated that her biggest fear when filming her role as war photojournalist Lee Smith was looking like an amateur photographer, which led her to work closely with the film’s photographer, Murray Close, and spending hours practicing how to look natural while snapping pics. However, since having some time away from the intense war film, Dunst, in an interview with The Wrap, revealed that she did not talk to her husband Plemons during the days they spent together on set while he played a representation of the twisted, violent American murdering anyone he doesn’t deem to be the right type of American.
“We didn’t talk to each other until we were done those days. I gave him his space, he gave me mine, and I think it was so disturbing for him to play that role. But it was for all the actors — I remember Wagner (Moura) just crying on the grass after we were done.” – Dunst via The Wrap
Plemons wasn’t even supposed to play the sickening part, as it was originally meant for another actor who encountered scheduling conflicts and had to back out of the war film. Even though Plemons, understandably, did not want to play the disgustingly murderous man when Dunst asked him to fill in, he had a change of heart. Since he was already there supporting Dunst with their two young children, and is a phenomenal actor, the scene worked well. A little too well actually, seeing as Dunst did not talk to Plemons while he was playing the vile part, and who could blame her? No one wants to see the person they love assuming the role of a monster right in front of them.
Garland’s Realistic War Zone in ‘Civil War’ Left Dunst Exhausted
Earlier this year, audiences watched in tense horror as Garland painted the picture of where blind, selfish hatred gets us, but at least viewers could go back to their families, pets, and conflictless streets and be thankful they didn’t have to live through the frightening reality of the fictional film. However, for star actress Kirsten Dunst, that was not the case.
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If having to fear for her life at the hands of someone she knows dearly wasn’t real enough, Garland made sure that the war action on the set felt as realistic as possible. Going to work in a war zone would make anyone exhausted, and Dunst revealed that it definitely took a toll on her.
“Alex wanted it to feel as real as possible, so he didn’t use half rounds. He used full rounds for the blanks, and really powerful explosions. And the way the camera followed us, too, it didn’t make anything look cool. It just felt very immersive. The last two weeks of filming were just tanks, explosions, constant gunfire and stunts. It’s a lot on your body, and to hear that for two weeks straight is very intense. And then you read about a school shooting.” – Dunst via The Wrap
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