USA: FILM MAKER MICHAEL MOORE TALKS ABOUT HIS ANTI-GUN DOCUMENTARY FILM "BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE"

Record ID: 549167

  • Title: USA: FILM MAKER MICHAEL MOORE TALKS ABOUT HIS ANTI-GUN DOCUMENTARY FILM "BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE"
  • Date: 9th October 2002
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 9, 2002) (REUTERS) SCU SOUNDBITE (English) MICHAEL MOORE SAYING: "There's something wrong with the fact that a guy in a ball cap with no education is the one knocking on the door of the CEO asking the questions that you should be asking. If you're a journalist watching my film, you should be embarrassed by me. You should be r
  • Embargoed: 24th October 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAC28YS2BRQJ3X01N1N0BZTCEJL
  • Story Text: Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore takes aim at America's gun policy in his latest release "Bowling for Columbine." Amid a rash of sniper shootings in the Washington, D.C. area and talk of a U.S. war on Iraq, the film is especially timely. And though the title harkens back to the Colorado school shootings of 3 1/2 years ago, "Bowling"
    talks less specifically about that event and more about the nation's culture of violence and what Moore characterizes as a country under the spell of media-created fear.
    Outspoken filmmaker Michael Moore, director of "Roger and Me" and the man behind the television shows "TV Nation"
    and "The Awful Truth," looks for answers to America's gun problem in his controversial new documentary "Bowling for Columbine."
    Moore slams groups like the National Rifle Association and the U.S. media for perpetuating fear among Americans; and blames Americans for buying into it. He compares the nation's acceptance of current gun policy to its acquiescence in other political matters.
    "You know, the worst thing we did in the last couple of years is we allowed a man who did not win the White House take over that piece of Federal property that belongs to you and I.
    And what was the lesson to Bush and his cronies? The lesson was, 'oh my god, look at this, we can actually steal this piece of property from the people and they won't rise up, they won't do anything,'" Moore told Reuters.
    The film won a special 55th Anniversary Prize at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival; it also had the distinction of being the first documentary accepted into competition at Cannes since 1956. Moore said the film lets Europeans look at what could happen in their societies if they're not careful.
    "Europeans have reacted very strongly to this film. It's already won a number of prizes, starting at the Cannes Film Festival; it won the audience award at the San Sebastian Film Festival. They like this film not because they like laughing at Americans and how silly we are with our guns, they like it because they see it as a warning, a warning to themselves,"
    Moore said.
    The politically charged Moore hopes "Bowling for Columbine" will have a similar affect on Americans audiences and inspire them to get angry and get active.
    "Active, that's what a citizen means in a democracy -- active. Because it's a participatory event; it's not a spectator sport. We have to be active; it's a demand if you dare to call yourself a citizen. Don't wave that flag in my face anymore; don't say 'United We Stand' to me anymore; put away your WalMart bumper stickers about 'Love it or leave it.' I want to see you actually get up off your butt and do something to make this country a better place. That is the most patriotic thing you can do right now," Moore told Reuters.
    "Bowling for Columbine," having received substantial critical praise from the American media, is currently showing in U.S. theaters.
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