Amidst ongoing claims that Donald Trump might not concede the election if Hillary Clinton clinches the needed votes, Michael Moore has just released a new movie that might save our democracy from chaos. “Michael Moore in TrumpLand” is a film of a one-man stage performance Moore delivered on Oct. 7 in Ohio. Billed as the film that Ohio Republicans tried to shut down, it follows Oscar-winner Moore as he enters into hostile territory with the goal of influencing the November elections and saving us all from Trump.
The film opened in New York for a free screening on Tuesday the 18th. It is currently screening at the IFC Center in New York, where it broke the house record on Wednesday for a single screen opening, and Moore will be at several shows this weekend. It is also playing in Encino, California, and available on iTunes.
The maverick filmmaker, whose work always combines political passion and satirical wit, has entered into entirely new territory with this new movie. Not only is he attempting to convince Trump voters to abandon their blustery, bigoted candidate; he is trying to change the way we all think about the election.
“TrumpLand” comes off at first as a simple gesture to persuade Trump voters to think twice before casting their ballot — but that is just the surface. At its core, the film is offering the U.S. public an intervention into the political discourse that we haven’t seen yet. While it will be easy to dismiss the film as a publicity stunt that simply broadcasts a one-man show and will be irrelevant after the vote, that misses the larger point. The film isn’t only aimed at convincing Trump supporters to reexamine their plans on Election Day; its real goal is to heal a nation after an election cycle that has felt more like a civil war than a functional democracy.
Most reviews have focused on how the film is “pro-Hillary.” While it’s true that the film centers on Moore having a conversation in the heart of TrumpLand and advocating for all of the audience to vote for Clinton — party politics are only one part of the story.
Moore is a savvy public intellectual and he has carefully watched the political narratives dominating the airwaves. He’s had his own fun during the campaign too. Besides writing open letters and offering numerous interviews on how Trump could, in fact, win, Moore penned a satirical letter to Ivanka Trump telling her that it was time for her to stage an “intervention” and get her dad out of the race — because he simply isn’t well. The letter was classic Moore — sassy, smart, silly and serious.
But the art of Moore’s political comedy has really taken a turn this election cycle. During the primary season, Moore released what I consider to be the most important film of his career: “Where to Invade Next,” which thinks deeply about how we can improve our nation by adopting the practices of a series of other countries that get it right. Turning the practice of U.S. military invasions on its head, Moore’s “invasion” strategy is to steal good ideas and bring them back to the United States. While Moore had spent most of his career exposing corruption, deception, abuse and exploitation, this film took a completely different angle. Rather than expose the negative and ugly, it celebrated the possible. While just as hilarious as his other films, “Where to Invade Next” delved into the failures caused by American exceptionalism and imagined ways our nation could come together and enact positive social change.
It is this side of Moore that we have to keep in mind in order to fully understand “Michael Moore in TrumpLand.” Rather than viciously attack Trump and praise Clinton, the film takes an entirely different tack: it begins by showing respect for Trump supporters, by understanding their rage, and by acknowledging their views — including their hatred of Hillary Clinton.
Even if that angle had been the sole contribution made by this film, it would have been a revelation. This election has not just been a mud-slinging contest between candidates; Trump supporters have also been viciously attacked as stupid bigots filled with hate. The marquee of the theater where Moore is performing proclaims “Trump supporters are welcome.” Moore stays true to the invitation: he really does welcome them.
Using his charm, Moore helps his audience relax by seeing their views as valid. He also uses a very gentle self-mocking humor to remind the audience that white males make up only 19 percent of eligible voters. Counting himself among those who are watching their power diminish, he directly addresses the anxieties that have driven much of the pro-Trump energy.
But Moore then walks his audience through the consequences of what happens if they just cast the “fuck you” vote. “I get it,” he tells his audience, ”you wanted to send a message. You had righteous anger and justifiable anger.” Likening the election of Trump to Brexit, he then cautions the audience to seriously consider what would happen after: “Good night America you’ve just elected the last president of the United States.”
Next comes a parody news report of what it would be like on the day of a Trump inauguration. The reporter tells us that the “shitshow started within minutes.” Trump orders aerial bombardment of all Mexican border towns, establishes stop-and-frisk checkpoints in all inner U.S. cities, and deports Rosie O’Donnell to American Samoa. Then the reporter explains that Trump is refusing to stay in the White House, so he leaves his kids and Pence and heads off to Florida. “By day’s end, 20 million Americans who stated they had voted for Trump signed an online petition asking for a do-over election.” The reporter then signs off saying it is their last broadcast since the station has been taken over by the new Roger Ailes-headed network, “Trump Channel.”
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