Review of movie A Private War

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Rating:4/5

 In this biographical drama, ‘A Private War’ has the mammoth task of portraying the gruesome realities of battle while showcasing the difficulties of coming back to a life of comfort. As a foreign correspondent, Marie Colvin pushed the boundaries of war journalism to bring hard-hitting stories of human suffering from the depths of war-torn areas. She also suffered from PTSD, and constantly struggled to maintain her relationships while abandoning any hope of having a family of her own. Her friends and colleagues tried to understand what drove her to go back to the field. But as the title implies, she was so harrowed by human suffering that she felt compelled to tell the individual stories of those affected by war. This came at a massive personal cost – as ironic as it sounds, Marie could not find peace outside of a combat zone.

Rosamund Pike dives headfirst into the role, without over-dramatising or downplaying Marie's passion. By staying authentic to Marie’s reckless abandon and gruff exterior, Pike skillfully peels off those layers to reveal the real damage underneath it all. However, in the effort to maintain an honest outlook on Marie’s life, the film tends to meander slightly when off the battlefield, leading to some narrative casualties. During those scenes, it helps to have a rock-solid cast with the likes of Tom Hollander, Stanley Tucci and Faye Marsay. But the most surprising performance comes from Jamie Dornan as Paul Conroy – Marie’s photographer on the field. Dornan reveals he has more shades to his acting repertoire and his interactions with Pike are most compelling. The platonic relationship between Marie and Paul is rife with genuine concern for each other, especially as Paul’s background in the army becomes crucial to help Marie identify, and deal with her PTSD.

Besides her story, the film also feels the need to be a neutral spectator, taking neither a pro- or anti-war stance. Herein lies its tribute to Marie, in how she did not focus on the religious or geopolitical motivations of war, but only on the toll it takes on humanity. This distinctive approach comes from director Matthew Heineman, whose experience filming documentaries is put to good use. Marie Colvin was a profoundly driven, yet flawed individual, and Heineman doesn’t shy away from putting her personal demons on full display. ‘A Private War’ is filled with brutal, powerful images that will stick with you well after the movie is done, and succeeds in paying homage to a woman who put her life on the line while documenting others.