The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

Documentary delves into economic and social issues

Screen Shot 2016-03-18 at 1.01.54 PMIf anyone likes to show how backward America is, it’s Michael Moore.

Moore, who directed “Bowling for Columbine” and the highest grossing documentary of all time “Fahrenheit 9/11,” is back after a six-year hiatus from filmmaking.

“Where to Invade Next?,”  Moore’s latest documentary, was shot in secret and premiered at the Toronto Film Festival Sept. 2015 with almost no notice.

The film follows Moore as he travels through Europe and Africa attempting to “steal” good policy ideas and bring them back to the United States.

Moore shows how nations such as Tunisia, Germany and France address certain economic and social issues in comparison to the United States.

These issues range from sexual education to mass imprisonment.

He gathers his data through observation and in-depth interviews, including everything from eating a school lunch with French elementary school children to meeting with the president of Slovenia to discuss free higher education.

Through this data, Moore exposes what aspects of American culture should be recalibrated to better benefit its citizens.

“Where to Invade Next?” challenges many American values in an eye-opening way by providing clear alternatives, but is also clearly selective in terms of what countries and policies are discussed.

Moore almost exclusively focuses on small European countries with strong social welfare policies, with the exception of some North African countries.

Although the United States has room for improvement in a variety of ways, Moore’s criticism loses power when you consider the one-sided nature of the film’s argument, specifically its basis in a single type of society.

The film jumps from issue to issue and country to country without thoughtful transitions, which amounts to a scattered and overly ambitious criticism of American culture.

Despite Moore’s bias, the film successfully addresses current societal issues and how to combat them.

More to Discover
Activate Search
Documentary delves into economic and social issues