What Kind Of American Are You?

What Kind Of American Are You?": Jesse Plemmons' Civil War Scene Explained
Story by Nicole Zamlout •
04/17/24
Plemmons' character in Civil War questions the loyalties of the protagonists in a pivotal scene.
Plemmons' question also reveals the intense division and fear in the country throughout the film.
The film highlights how radical politics and intolerance can lead to the destruction of freedoms.
A24's film Civil War had several jaw-dropping moments, but one of the most intense contained a startling question for the protagonists from Jesse Plemmons' character: "What kind of American are you?" Civil War chronicles the story of a divided America that is torn between a series of secessionist movements and an authoritarian government. As a group of journalists attempts to cross state lines to interview the president about the ongoing war, they find danger at every turn as each stop holds new enemies who have their own ideas about who they consider a "true American."
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The film was directed and written by Alex Garland, who also directed the 2014 film Ex Machina and the 2018 film Annihilation. Civil War was theatrically released in 2024 by A24 and achieved critical success, grossing a $25.7 million box office on its opening weekend. The film also received positive critical reviews on Rotten Tomatoes with an 83% critic score, according to Screen Rant.

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What Jesse Plemmons' Character Really Means By His "What Kind Of American Are You" Question
Plemmon plays an unnamed solider in Civil War
Plemmons' character in Civil War is only in one scene, but his question showcases the clear division and fear that permeates the country within the film. The Solider, who captures Jessie (Cailee Spaeny) and Tony (Nelson Lee), asks the question to the remaining group members as he stands by a mass grave, his casual air adding more tension to the scene. Though he has no clear allegiances, the Soldier seems to be gauging if the group is allied with the Western Forces or the Florida Alliance and are, therefore, his enemies, as he does not view those groups as "American".

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Jesse Plemmons' Civil War Scene Explains How Divided America Really Is
Plemmon's question showcases the power of politics in the world of Civil War and how those politics can be used to justify radical behavior and division. The group comes from all over the country, with Tony being born in Hong Kong. This is enough reason, in the Soldier's mind, to consider him an enemy, leading to Tony's death. This highlights how rapidly intolerance can grow and showcases how those secessionist forces align with the president's radical views despite their claims of being against his politics, as both parties believe their ideas are the only way to create a "true" America.

These strong beliefs and political justifications are at the heart of the civil war within the A24 movie and highlight how that radicalization can lead to such startling division. These ideas of what America is "meant to be" seem different on the surface, but both sides deal in intolerance and hate, leading to the destruction of the same freedoms they wish to preserve. This destruction continues throughout the rest of the film, reflecting some of the same radical politics that audiences can see in reality and how those same ideas can lead to life imitating art.

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Civil War 2024 Movie Poster Featuring Fighters with Snipers Atop the Statue of Liberty
Civil War 2024 Movie Poster Featuring Fighters with Snipers Atop the Statue of Liberty
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Civil War
Civil War is a 2024 action thriller from writer and director Alex Garland. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and Stephen McKinley Henderson, Civil War takes place in the near future and shows the United States entering a new Civil War after California and Texas attempt to separate from the country.

DirectorAlex Garland
Release DateApril 26, 2024
Studio(s)DNA Films
Distributor(s)A24
WritersAlex Garland
CastCailee Spaeny, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Nick Offerman, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons