I saw Michael Moore’s new documentary, Fahrenheit 11/9, at the theater last weekend. “11/9” refers to the date that Donald Trump’s presidential win was officially called. And while Moore clearly captures Trump as a terrifying catalyst of fascism, the film is not a two-hour-long Trump bash. That, alone, would be superficial.
Systemic Corruption
In Fahrenheit 11/9, Moore explores political corruption, greed, the misuse of power, and the loss of American democracy. He does so with his signature ability to tease significant “dots” from out of the chaos, so the rest of us may connect them with ease.
Flint was an experiment in running government like a business, and Trump admired the results… The U.S. Army bombed empty buildings in Flint… President Obama accompanied Gov. Rick Snyder on a PR gig to pronounce the return of safe water in Flint… In several states during the 2016 Democratic primary, superdelegates overrode the voters’ choice for Bernie Sanders and nominated Hillary Clinton instead… Today’s Americans may be fairly compared to the good German people during Hitler’s rise to power… U.S. citizens, all across the country, can expect more Flint.
An Alarm Bell
Fahrenheit 11/9 rings the alarm bell. What action is required? Moore highlights examples of powerful resistance movements: student survivors of a mass-shooting initiate national demonstrations for gun control, teacher strikes that spread from West Virginia to Oklahoma, and persistent Black Lives Matter activism.
But what about the country, in general? Despite a proliferation of anti-Trump rhetoric, the American will for real political revolution remains faint-hearted. So, how will people respond to the alarm?
Folks lulled by a steady diet of mainstream corporate network news may be stunned and discombobulated by Moore’s Fahrenheit 11/9. Trump loyalists will simply explode with knee-jerk “Fake News!” accusations. Viewers accustomed to reflective thinking will leave the theater with the somber weight of responsibility on their shoulders.
‘Fahrenheit 11/9’ Official Trailer
Related Resources
Michael Moore talks with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! about his new documentary film, Fahrenheit 11/9:
- Michael Moore: Are We Going to Be Like the “Good Germans” Who Let Hitler Rise to Power?
- Michael Moore: Democrats Made Fatal Mistake in Not Taking Trump More Seriously in 2016
- Michael Moore v. Donald Trump in “Fahrenheit 11/9”: New Film Warns Our Democracy Is At Risk
- Trump Warned Michael Moore Not to Make a Film About Him in 1998 Interview on Roseanne Show
It’s time for REAL Resistance.
Progressive Graffiti 
Thanks for the synopsis, JoAnn. I haven’t seen it yet.
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I think you’ll appreciate this new doc, Rosaliene.
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i’ll make my way
into the local theater for this!
the orange bafoon’s image
makes me ill 🙂
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Take along some candied ginger for your stomach. It’s not a feel-good film. On the upside, it is take-action.
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