On October 18, Michael Moore, the controversial documentarian known for such films as "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "Bowling for Columbine," premiered his latest project at the IFC Center in New York City. Michael Moore in "TrumpLand" takes Moore into the heart of Wilmington, Ohio - a small town that does embody the mystical place in the documentary's title. "Make America Great Again" signs stick proudly in yards, guns are as beloved and commonplace as ice cream shops, and the only bumper sticker you'll ever see with Clinton's name on it is one endorsing a prison stint. It is here (ironically, in Clinton County, Ohio) where Moore decided to give a talk at the town's legendary Murphy Theatre to discuss the election.
Moore's audience's political views are quite different from his own. Taking to the stage in a black sweatshirt, jeans, and a red San Francisco 49ers cap that makes an odd parallel to the hat Mr. Trump has made famous this political season, Moore spends little time dwelling on their differences. Instead, he breaks down where he believes the feeling of resentment in the average Trump voter has arisen from. It's not because Mr. Trump is necessarily a wonderful, qualified candidate. It is, instead, because he is saying things a certain demographic needs to hear. Specifically, Moore notes of the white, middle-class, middle-aged man residing in the states that border the Great Lakes (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and his home state, Michigan) where car manufacturers and other businesses have left for cheaper opportunities across the border, meanwhile leaving many high and dry. He compares these states to the areas in the United Kingdom that were in favor of the Brexit decision. He believes people living in these states feel that this is the solution to the problems they have faced over the last eight years.
And like many Brexit supports after decision day, Moore, too, feels America will regret electing Donald Trump as our 45th, and in his opinion our last, President.
While the documentary is filled with laughs at the expense of all (Trump, his supporters, and even Moore's friends the liberals all fall victim to chuckle-worthy comments), it strives to continue to push for the dangers facing the country should the election go to the right. Moore does this mainly by asking questions of the audience. His first is about gender and its changing face in our nation. He questions if the white man - which he states makes up only 19% of the American population today - feels threaten by the idea of there first being an African American president followed by a woman president, and if that would open doors to even more diverse candidates in the future. The audience is pushed to question what is so threatening about women as Moore jokes that they are less likely to commit crimes, especially violent ones, but more likely to attend law school. He even suggests the population increase in women is Mother Nature's logic stepping in after the wrongdoings of men.
Even more specifically, he asks, what is the matter with Hillary Clinton? His audience is pushed to name nice things about Clinton, a field where they struggle compared to the ease where they name her faults. Moore is never blind to these problems and always maintains he is not a Clinton longtime supporter, though this becomes ever more doubtful with his personal stories of time spent with the family. Instead, he shifts the focus to the positive aspects of Hillary Clinton's career. We hear excerpts from her college graduation speech where Moore feels she emulates the message of Bernie Sanders's campaign, are warmed by her attempts at universal health care for the country during her time as first lady, and then outraged by the sexism that took place and made the struggle unbearable (a seemingly reoccurring theme throughout Clinton's career). It's well argued and it works.
But the biggest question the film raises is also one it never attempts to answer nor addresses directly: will this film really make any difference, or is it just a confirmation of Moore's political stance? With its release less than three weeks ahead of the general election and only in limited, urban settings, it doesn't seem to be concerned with this issue, but then what is the point of making it? Will this piece actually turn any heads or influence any decisions? I suppose it is yet to be seen, though my confidence is slight.
About halfway through the documentary, an older, white man came and sat next to me in the theatre. When Moore praised Clinton for her intelligence and the efforts she's put forth throughout her political career, the man smirked and snarled. It was if he had been placed for dramatic effect, to depict exactly the kind of audience Moore is trying to persuade to understand his argument amongst a group who already did before they purchased their tickets. This man also acted as the real test to see if the documentary could answer my previous question. He left the theatre with his fist in the air, his last words a valiant battle cry: "Vote Trump!"
