There are people who are not inclined to seek out information about politics, social issues or the world at large, but they are more likely to consume this material if it’s presented in the form of entertainment. A movie, documentary, late-night talk show or news satire television program is a digestible source of intelligence that’s able to summarize from a vast array of sources. Of course, that’s not to say those delivering these communications don’t have their own agenda or biases, but it is still a way to ensure people receive information and hopefully take steps to draw informed conclusions. Filmmaker Michael Moore is one of the most prolific producers of issue-based documentaries for the masses and his latest picture is Fahrenheit 11/9 (not to be confused with the previous release, Fahrenheit 9/11).
This film is positioned as an examination of the circumstances that led to Donald Trump winning the presidential election on November 9, 2016. However, this isn’t an exercise in recounting all the controversial things Trump did during his campaign or has done since taking office; instead, it describes all the missteps that led to numerous disgruntled voters — 100 million of which just stayed home on this fateful day. A conspiratorial water crisis, rampant gun violence, rising opioid epidemic and underpaid essential workers are just some of the most egregious issues plaguing U.S. citizens. But rather than focus solely on the bleak, the film also advocates for a future filled with hope and change.
When Moore penned the essay, “5 Reasons Why Trump Will Win,” in July before the election, everyone thought he was crazy. His projection went against most of the pollsters and pundits, and was supported by extrapolations that no one wanted to hear. And then just like he predicted Trump becoming the Republican nominee, he foretold the result of the presidential election — “Go ahead and say the words, ‘cause you’ll be saying them for the next four years: “PRESIDENT TRUMP.”” But this film explores entirely different subjects that affected voters’ opinions.
Moore touches on Trump’s divisiveness, his collusion with the Russians and Hilary Clinton‘s aura of dishonesty, but there’s bigger fish to fry. The residents of Flint, Michigan were poisoned by their water for years and no one did anything to help them — in fact, interviews in the film suggest they actually did everything possible to conceal the crisis. Then there’s the school teachers who are so underpaid, in spite of their crucial positions in children’s lives, that many work additional jobs and/or rely on food stamps — and they’re ready to fight for better conditions. The most encouraging of these issues stems from tragedy. High school students are tired of being gunned down because politicians funded by the National Rifle Association refuse to consider gun control. Now these young people, many of whom are not even old enough to vote yet, are mobilizing and inspiring others to run for office to promote change.
As with all of Moore’s films, this one is clearly moulded around his beliefs and biases, particularly for his home state, but that doesn’t make it any less informative. The statistics and personal accounts speak for themselves, regardless of Moore’s heavy-handed approach to these subject matters.
Director: Michael Moore
