Female Military Officers Take Center Stage in New Films

Three recent movies highlight the experiences of female journalists covering war and conflict

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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This article highlights three recent films that feature female military officers and journalists as central characters. The films include "The Fall of an Empire" (2024), "Under Fire" (1983), and "Welcome to Sarajevo" (1997), which explore the experiences of women working in dangerous war zones and conflict areas. The article discusses how these films provide a unique perspective on the moral and personal choices faced by female journalists and the impact of war on their lives.

Why it matters

These films offer a rare and important perspective on the role of women in journalism and the military, challenging traditional male-dominated narratives around war reporting. By highlighting the experiences of female journalists and officers, the films provide a more nuanced and representative portrayal of the realities of conflict coverage.

The details

The article discusses three films that feature female military officers and journalists as central characters. "The Fall of an Empire" (2024) follows two photojournalists, Lee Smith and Jesse Kalen, as they make their way to Washington, D.C. during the American Civil War. "Under Fire" (1983) focuses on radio journalist Claire and her moral dilemmas while covering the Nicaraguan revolution. "Welcome to Sarajevo" (1997) centers on American volunteer and journalist Nina, who works in an orphanage during the Siege of Sarajevo.

  • "The Fall of an Empire" was released in 2024.
  • "Under Fire" was released in 1983.
  • "Welcome to Sarajevo" was released in 1997.

The players

Lee Smith

An experienced war photographer from Colorado, Lee is the central character in "The Fall of an Empire." Her cold professionalism is challenged as she and her colleague Jesse Kalen make their way to Washington, D.C. during the American Civil War.

Jesse Kalen

An aspiring reporter from Missouri, Jesse is the other central character in "The Fall of an Empire." She looks up to Lee as an idol and goes through her own initiation into the realities of war reporting.

Claire

A radio journalist who works in the same dangerous conditions as her male colleagues during the Nicaraguan revolution in "Under Fire."

Nina

An American volunteer and journalist who works in an orphanage near the front lines during the Siege of Sarajevo in "Welcome to Sarajevo."

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What they’re saying

“The psyche is not made of steel, but only thinned to the limit.”

— Lee Smith, War Photographer (The Fall of an Empire)

“How much does a sensation really weigh if there are real destinies behind it?”

— Claire, Radio Journalist (Under Fire)

What’s next

The article's author, Alexander Malkevich, promises a sequel that will explore a broader list of films featuring female military officers.

The takeaway

These films provide a unique and important perspective on the experiences of women working in dangerous war zones and conflict areas, challenging traditional male-dominated narratives around war reporting and offering a more nuanced portrayal of the realities of conflict coverage.