<p>This week, we talk about the new film ‘Civil War’, directed by Alex Garland, which depicts a future US that’s divided and decimated. It stars Kirsten Dunst as a veteran photojournalist, who is on a road trip with a ragtag group of colleagues. They’re driving through the war-torn north-east to reach the White House before it is stormed by rebel forces. The film has been highly praised as well as highly criticised. What is it trying to say about the state of America? Is it a war film, a political film, or both? The FT’s politics columnist Stephen Bush and US executive producer of audio Topher Forhecz join Lilah to discuss.</p><p>-------</p><p>We love hearing from you. Lilah is on Instagram <a href="https://instagram.com/lilahrap" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@lilahrap</a> and we’re on X @<a href="https://twitter.com/lifeandartpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lifeandartpod</a>. You can email us at <a href="mailto:lifeandart@ft.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lifeandart@ft.com</a>. We are grateful for reviews, on Apple, Spotify, etc.</p><p>-------</p><p><strong>Links (all FT links get you past the paywall):&nbsp;</strong></p><p>– Danny Leigh’s review of Civil War (he liked it less than we did): <a href="https://on.ft.com/4aTzD6P" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://on.ft.com/4aTzD6P</a>&nbsp;</p><p>– FT critic Leslie Felperin’s interview with Alex Garland: <a href="https://on.ft.com/3W03lmt" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://on.ft.com/3W03lmt</a>&nbsp;</p><p>– You can get a free trial of Stephen’s political newsletter Inside Politics – which includes a daily cultural recommendation – by clicking <a href="https://www.ft.com/newsletter-signup/inside-politics/trial?segmentId=65e99569-a22c-441d-fea3-6923a6588459" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a></p><p>– Stephen Bush on X at @<a href="https://twitter.com/stephenkb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">stephenkb</a>.</p><p>– Listen to our episode ‘How to process the news when it all feels bad’, with FT foreign editor Alec Russell. You can find it in our feed</p><p><strong>More or Less:</strong></p><p>–&nbsp;Topher wants to see more interesting landmarks used in films, as in ‘North by Northwest’ and ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’</p><p>–&nbsp;Stephen wants to see no more ‘Ghostbusters’ ever. Here’s the FT’s 2-star review of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’: <a href="https://on.ft.com/4aVOEot" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://on.ft.com/4aVOEot</a>&nbsp;</p><p>– Lilah wants fewer menus. She recommends 15 Fox Place in Jersey City, and Osteria 16 in Copenhagen</p><p>-----</p><p>The FT Weekend Festival is coming back, and will be in Washington on May 4. Speakers include Nancy Pelosi. To book tickets, go to <a href="http://ft.com/festival-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ft.com/festival-us</a> and use our exclusive discount code: weekendpodcast.&nbsp;</p><p>Special FT subscription offers for Life and Art podcast listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial, are here: <a href="https://ft.com/lifeandart" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://ft.com/lifeandart</a></p><p>—</p><p><em>Clips this week are from A24</em></p><br><p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/fd66f212-0a64-4414-b6c2-b01f8debedec" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com</strong></a></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Life and Art from FT Weekend

Financial Times

Culture chat: ‘Civil War’ is not the film you think it is

APR 19, 202422 MIN
Life and Art from FT Weekend

Culture chat: ‘Civil War’ is not the film you think it is

APR 19, 202422 MIN

Description

<p>This week, we talk about the new film ‘Civil War’, directed by Alex Garland, which depicts a future US that’s divided and decimated. It stars Kirsten Dunst as a veteran photojournalist, who is on a road trip with a ragtag group of colleagues. They’re driving through the war-torn north-east to reach the White House before it is stormed by rebel forces. The film has been highly praised as well as highly criticised. What is it trying to say about the state of America? Is it a war film, a political film, or both? The FT’s politics columnist Stephen Bush and US executive producer of audio Topher Forhecz join Lilah to discuss.</p><p>-------</p><p>We love hearing from you. Lilah is on Instagram <a href="https://instagram.com/lilahrap" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@lilahrap</a> and we’re on X @<a href="https://twitter.com/lifeandartpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lifeandartpod</a>. You can email us at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[email protected]</a>. We are grateful for reviews, on Apple, Spotify, etc.</p><p>-------</p><p><strong>Links (all FT links get you past the paywall):&nbsp;</strong></p><p>– Danny Leigh’s review of Civil War (he liked it less than we did): <a href="https://on.ft.com/4aTzD6P" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://on.ft.com/4aTzD6P</a>&nbsp;</p><p>– FT critic Leslie Felperin’s interview with Alex Garland: <a href="https://on.ft.com/3W03lmt" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://on.ft.com/3W03lmt</a>&nbsp;</p><p>– You can get a free trial of Stephen’s political newsletter Inside Politics – which includes a daily cultural recommendation – by clicking <a href="https://www.ft.com/newsletter-signup/inside-politics/trial?segmentId=65e99569-a22c-441d-fea3-6923a6588459" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a></p><p>– Stephen Bush on X at @<a href="https://twitter.com/stephenkb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">stephenkb</a>.</p><p>– Listen to our episode ‘How to process the news when it all feels bad’, with FT foreign editor Alec Russell. You can find it in our feed</p><p><strong>More or Less:</strong></p><p>–&nbsp;Topher wants to see more interesting landmarks used in films, as in ‘North by Northwest’ and ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’</p><p>–&nbsp;Stephen wants to see no more ‘Ghostbusters’ ever. Here’s the FT’s 2-star review of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’: <a href="https://on.ft.com/4aVOEot" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://on.ft.com/4aVOEot</a>&nbsp;</p><p>– Lilah wants fewer menus. She recommends 15 Fox Place in Jersey City, and Osteria 16 in Copenhagen</p><p>-----</p><p>The FT Weekend Festival is coming back, and will be in Washington on May 4. Speakers include Nancy Pelosi. To book tickets, go to <a href="http://ft.com/festival-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ft.com/festival-us</a> and use our exclusive discount code: weekendpodcast.&nbsp;</p><p>Special FT subscription offers for Life and Art podcast listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial, are here: <a href="https://ft.com/lifeandart" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://ft.com/lifeandart</a></p><p>—</p><p><em>Clips this week are from A24</em></p><br><p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/fd66f212-0a64-4414-b6c2-b01f8debedec" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com</strong></a></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>