Shubhabrata Dutta
Since the time humankind began to understand the concept of territory and one’s sole right over it, the concept of war has been brewing within the species. And as human civilization progressed further, the tools of war improved alongside it. One of the forms that war takes is one that happens intra-state, between people of a single country. Civil wars have ravaged many countries over the years. They have permanently changed the political and social structures in countries. For some, it has been a positive change; for others, it has been the darkest period in their history. Netflix features many movies that deal with civil wars in different countries. They educate you about the history of that place while also giving you ample space to connect it with your own history.
12. Free State of Jones (2016)
Gary Ross’ ‘Free State of Jones’ is a dramatization of a revolt during the American Civil War, led by Newton Knight (Matthew McConaughey). He deserted his Confederate troops after the Second Battle of Corinth (1862). Upon finding out that his neighbors in Jones County, Mississippi, are being tormented by the Confederacy, he gathers co-deserters and leads the Knight Company of Southern Unionists, eventually forming the titular state. Based on the books ‘The Free State of Jones’ by Victoria E. Bynum and ‘The State of Jones’ by Sally Jenkins and John Stauffer, ‘Free State of Jones’ is a gripping retelling of a decisive moment in the history of the American Civil War. You can watch it here.
11. The Silent War (2019)
Directed by Alfonso Cortés-Cavanillas, ‘The Silent War’ is a Spanish drama set in 1944 Spain (during Francisco Franco’s dictatorship). It follows Anselmo (Asier Etxeandia), a guerilla fighter whose planned explosion on Franco’s totalitarian forces is botched. The dynamite goes off before he and his peers can take cover, and he loses his hearing. However, he manages to escape while the others are captured. Thus begins Anselmo’s journey of survival as his enemies, including the sharp-sighted sniper Darya (Olimpia Melinte), hunt him.
Alluding to Ernest Hemingway’s novel ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls,’ ‘The Silent War’ addresses themes of war, hatred, and survival. While some things could have been better, the film does manage to pull off what it intends to and is, in that sense, a civil war drama. It can be watched here.
10. Simon (2023)
Directed by Diego Vicentini, this drama showcases civil unrest in Venezuela, in the middle of which we have our protagonist, Simon (Christian McGaffney). After being arrested and tortured by Venezuelan authorities, he manages to escape and arrives in Miami, seeking asylum. However, when he finds out that asylum means no going back to his motherland ever, he is faced with the most crucial choice of his life: stay and forget about his past or return and fight and risk dying. Is he ready to live with guilt for the rest of his life? Or is he willing to risk dying for the sake of his country? Winner of many accolades, including six awards at the Venezuelan Film Festival, ‘Simon’ is a must-watch drama that authentically showcases the outer and inner turmoil that results from a civil war. You can watch it here.
9. Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom (2015)
Directed by Evgeny Afineevsky, this documentary showcases the Maidan Uprising in Kyiv, Ukraine, in February 2014. Also known as the Ukrainian Revolution/Revolution of Dignity, it took place in the aftermath of the Euromaidan protests against President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision not to sign the European Union–Ukraine Association Agreement. The protestors met with the state forces, which eventually led to the resignation of Yanukovych and his government. Any description of the event cannot do justice to all that occurred during the uprising and can only be realized by watching the footage of the revolution and the testimonies of protestors. A must-watch documentary on civil war and how the greatest power lies in the hands of the common people, ‘Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom’ can be streamed right here.
8. Ezra (2007)
Directed by Newton Aduaka, ‘Ezra’ showcases the tragedy that is child soldiers, pure souls destroyed by the horrors of war. It follows 16-year-old Ezra, who is questioned by a Truth and Reconciliation Commission about his ten years as a child member of a rebel faction in the Sierra Leone civil war that began on March 23, 1991, and came to an end on January 18, 2002. Over 50,000 people died, and more than 2 million were displaced. Suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the level of which none of us can begin to imagine, Ezra’s hearing is inter-cut with crucial moments from his life in the faction. Mamoudu Turay Kamara nails his part as Ezra in this horrifying and devastating portrayal of a civil war through a kid’s eyes. You can watch it here.
7. ‘76 (2016)
‘76’ is a Nigerian period drama film set in 1976 and directed by Izu Ojukwu. It follows the pregnant wife of a young soldier who is accused of being responsible for conspiring against the military and planning a coup. Although the film is set six years after the end of the Nigerian Civil War, the narrative features some references to it. Moreover, it highlights how the Civil War created a period of discrimination and distrust in Nigeria and how various groups suffered due to it. You can watch the movie here.
6. Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Directed by Spike Lee, ‘Da 5 Bloods’ is a war drama movie that follows a group of African American Vietnam War veterans who return to the country in search of their missing squad leader. However, the group’s true intention is to recover the gold they stashed away during their first trip. Although the film is not a typical Civil War movie, it highlights the political tensions in Vietnam. It also underlines how the Vietnam War affected the soldiers involved and shaped their lives. Lee’s deft direction and powerful performances from the cast, including the late Chadwick Boseman, ‘Da 5 Bloods’ is one of the finest films to navigate war and politics in a single narrative. You may watch the film here.
5. First They Killed My Father (2017)
This movie was directed by Angelina Jolie and is undoubtedly her best work to date. It is a moving tale of a family caught in the crossfire during the Cambodian Civil War, the Cambodia Campaign, and the Vietnamese-Cambodian War. The movie is based on a true story written by Loung Ung, who also co-wrote the script with Jolie. Ung’s father was a soldier for the government against whom the Khmer Rouge, a communist organization in Cambodia, had declared war. The family is captured by the rebels and made to work in labor camps with almost little to no food. They also banned the use of foreign products in the camps, including medicine, which led to several captives losing their lives in the abysmal conditions of the camp.
The rebels kept up their propaganda inside the camps, trying to make the captives understand why it was important to rebel against the government. Loung had escaped from the camp and recruited herself as a child soldier in another camp, helping them plant mines and getting better treatment than what she had gotten as a laborer. The movie follows the lives of the children of the family who survive the war. This movie was screened at the Telluride and Toronto International Film Festivals and was adored by critics. Feel free to check out the movie here.
4. Beasts Of No Nation (2015)
This 2015 movie is adapted from a 2005 book of the same name. Written and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, it is the story of a boy soldier in the rebel army of a nation well into a civil war. Though the name of the nation is never mentioned, it is located somewhere in Africa. Abraham Attah and Idris Elba play the lead characters in the movie. This was Attah’s first film, and his impressive performance earned him a Marcelo Mastroianni Award at the Venice Film Festival.
Attah’s character is called Agu, and when his parents and siblings are killed by the government camp on accusations of being rebels, Agu escapes and joins a unit of rebel soldiers headed by the Commandant, played by Elba. Though Commandant takes Agu under his wing, he rapes him, and then the soldiers give him a drug called brown-brown (a concoction of cocaine and smokeless gunpowder). Some events follow, making Agu’s group lose contact with their parent organization, and the situation keeps getting tougher. The movie was thoroughly praised by critics, and Elba even won a Screen Actors’ Guild Award for his performance. You can watch ‘Beasts Of No Nation’ here.
3. Sergio (2020)
Director by Greg Barker’s ‘Sergio’ is a biographical film based on the life of Sérgio Vieira de Mello, United Nations Special Representative in Iraq. The film details Sérgio’s harrowing experiences in Baghdad after a bombing traps him in a hotel. The narrative loosely touches upon the American troops’ withdrawal from Iraq and the ensuing Civil War in the country. However, the focus remains on Sergio and his colleague’s struggles. Thus, in contrast to most movies on this list, it provides viewers with a perspective on war outside that of the military. You may watch it here.
2. The Endless Trench (2019)
Set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War of 1936, the Spanish-French historical drama ‘The Endless Trench’ or ‘La trinchera infinita’ follows Higinio Blanco (Antonio de la Torre), who has recently married a seamstress named Rosa (Belén Cuesta). He is forced to go into hiding for criticizing the Nationalist government. The film is split into chapters like a book. In the first chapter, Blanco is on the run from the Falangists (hence, the chapter is titled ‘campeada’ or ‘to run’) and eventually hides under the floor of his home. In chapter 2, ‘seconder or ‘to hide,’ Blanco has little choice but to move under the kitchen after his neighbors betray him. As the film progresses, he becomes accustomed to life in his hole, making his family wonder whether he will come out when the danger has passed. You may watch ‘The Endless Trench’ here.
1. The Siege of Jadotville (2016)
‘The Siege of Jadotville’ is a war-action film directed by Richie Smyth that revolves around Commandant Pat Quinlan (Jamie Dornan) of the Irish Army, who leads a troop of peacekeepers against an overwhelming number of Congolese soldiers. The true story-based film is set in 1961, in the aftermath of Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba’s execution, which triggered a Civil War in the country. It features some stunning visuals aided by an inspiring and emotionally touching story that will appeal to an audience with a liking for historical dramas. You can stream the film here.
Read More: Best Christian Movies on Netflix
