When it comes to discussing his latest A24 film, "Warfare," Alex Garland opts for a stripped-down approach. The filmmaker, who collaborated with former U.S. Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza to co-write and direct the movie, shares a poignant 95-minute narrative rooted in Mendoza's recollections of a pivotal 2006 mission in Iraq. Garland emphasizes that "Warfare" harbors no hidden agenda.
"The film draws solely from firsthand accounts, striving for an authentic recreation," Garland revealed at the U.K. premiere in London on Tuesday evening. "This neutral stance, I trust, allows viewers to engage as mature individuals, bringing their unique perspectives and opinions on the Iraq War to the table — they matter not. Instead, they are presented with supplementary information to interpret and take as they will."
The star-studded ensemble portraying real-life soldiers in "Warfare" boasts Charles Melton, Will Poulter, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Joseph Quinn, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Taylor John Smith, Finn Bennett, Noah Centineo, and Michael Gandolfini.
Garland further elaborated, contemplating how the pervasive era of social media has reshaped our reception of artistic mediums like films and television. "When you make a public statement aligning your thoughts with current events, it reassures your audience: 'Yes, we stand united. The choir is being preached to,'" he mused.
The director, renowned for films like "Ex Machina" and "Annihilation," added, "This practice becomes problematic because it precludes statements devoid of an agenda… I find it patronizing and exasperating, and I refuse to participate. Moreover, cinema has long glamorized war, which isn't always fitting."
Before introducing the cast to thunderous applause (excluding Quinn, who was recently unveiled in Las Vegas as part of Sam Mendes' Sony Beatles biopic), Mendoza revealed that "Warfare" serves partly as a tribute to Elliot Miller, portrayed by Jarvis in the film, who lacks memories of the depicted event. "It's immensely challenging to explain to him; he doesn't possess that pivotal memory," Mendoza said.
"Over the years, we've sketched maps and documented in military detail… I swiftly realized I wanted to recreate it for him. This visual medium is an exceptional format, a magnificent gift for him," he continued, adding a poignant touch to the evening.
