Bowling for ColumbineA movie by Michael Moore, featuring Michael MooreHelga says:
I had never heard of Michael Moore before until he let out a loud, "Shame on you, Mr President" at this year's Oscar ceremony. What kind of person is this man, and what did he receive his Oscar for? We all remember the Columbine massacre. With the investigative skills of a documentary film maker Michael Moore sets about finding an answer to the question why. Before the massacre happened, the young people were bowling, which explains the title. Was it the bowling game that inspired them, or rather the many, many weapons available at every street corner? Well, in Canada there are as many weapons as in the US, but not remotely as many murderers. Or was it the bloody past of the United States? Germany's past was even bloodier, but it doesn't make the Germans shoot around wildly (he must have filmed this passage before the Erfurt massacre happened in Germany). Dressed sloppily, not really what you would expect to see on the big screen, Moore travels through the United States, showing us amazing things, an aspect of America we are not exactly used to see. We get to know the paranoid fraction of American society, those who are deeply concerned about their safety, trying to protect themselves against everyone and everything. This is a good thing, because people who are worried about their safety are good consumers. The whole thing is garnished with some nasty details about the NRA, the National Rifle Association, and in the end we see a truly frightening picture of American society. Should we Germans gloat over this fact? No, not at all. Our own society is misled in just the same way. Bowling for Columbine is well worth watching and will give you a lot of food for thought. If you take a look at Moore's work (i. e. Downsizing This and Stupid White Men) it's a wonder he hasn't been shot yet. |
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Last changes: 16/08/03 Copyright 2003 Books & Movies |
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