The two met while working on Garland’s Civil War , the experience of filming the movie’s climactic final act inspiring both to launch an experiment in hyperrealism that, hopefully, would more accurately reflect the brutal reality Mendoza and his fellow soldiers were living during the U.S.’ War on Terror. In talking with GQ last year, the director gave his read on the sticky moral dilemma of conservation, saying, “For me, Sunshine was a story about a world that’s dying and somebody saying, ‘By saving the world temporarily at this moment, all you’re doing is delaying the horror of extinction to your ancestors, and that’s not fair on them. By refusing to tack on a message to the violence, Garland and Mendoza have created something timeless, a capsule to be buried and unearthed whenever we need a reminder of the futility of war and how patriotic idolatry hurts those stationed on the front lines.
Author: Jessica Toomer
Published at: 2025-04-23 21:48:59
Still want to read the full version? Full article
