"The people will not stand for lies"

The producer of "Bowling for Columbine", great winner at Cannes with his documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11", continues accusing George W. Bush and tells of pressures being applied to stop the unveiling of the film is the US.
Diego Lerer, Cannes, Special Envoy

A Canadian reporter looks at Michael Moore in the eyes and says: "Did you think fifteen years ago when you were struggling to get anyone to see your documentary "Roger and I" at the Toronto Festival that some day you would win the Golden Palm?" Moore, in his black suit, still perspiring and holding in his hand the Golden Palm just received for his film Fahrenheit 9/11 looks at him and smiles: "Has it been fifteen years?-says-. I can't believe it!"

The fact is few can believe it Just two years ago, when he presented his documentary Bowling for Columbine in Cannes, many were surprised that he would even be at the festival. Contrary to the hordes of Photographers and reporters that follow him these days along the sidewalks of La Croisettte, one would then find him on the same boulevard alone offering his hand to anyone, reporters included, who would just talk to him and rarely recognize him.

This year it was different. If his success with Bowling…, his Oscar, his speeches and the well received books made him a celebrity before arriving, his sparring with Disney, Mel Gibson and the White House, and the winning of the Golden Palm make him the man who might be responsible for making George Bush loose the upcoming elections.

"In reality is not the re-election but the election- says the director a bit more obese and less shaven than a few years ago-. The first one was a lie". That expression is also the departure point of Fahrenheit 9/11. There, Moore seeds quite logical doubts on the plausibility of Bush's victory in Florida, a state headed by his brother Jeb and the place that gave him the final push after the decision of the Supreme Court.

But Moore does not stop there. For two hours he makes fun of Bush, his closest men and women (Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rice), accuses them of secret economic ties to the Bin Laden family (he reason they can't find him anywhere), shows how they redirected the war against terrorism toward Iraq without any valid reason and how they take economic advantage of the disastrous situation to "rebuild" the country they destroyed.

In spite of the clear and explosive message, the director attempted to detach the film from the idea that this is a political treatise, possibly to avoid scaring the public in his country that normally recoils from going to the movies to see a "political sermon".

Moore says that "when I make a movie I want people to go and see it, I want to make something enjoyable and entertaining. I want to make films thet I would go see on a Friday evening. I want people to laugh, cry think and eat popcorn. Of course I would like that after seeing it they' keep talking about it and think about what it says."

But wouldn't you be interested that the movie should be a factor to be considered when voting comes around?

I wanted to say something on how we live in my country after 9/11. And I want the spectators to live the theater wanting to be good citizens. I am not sure I want to influence the elections but I also know it would make no sense to show this picture for Christmas (The lections in the US are on November 2).

How would it happen that people decide to be good citizens after seeing Fahrenheit 9/11?

I believe it will be shocking for Americans. There are many things in the movie they have never seen, torturing of Iraqis, battlefield scenes, the sadness of soldiers and their families. These are things not shown by the evening news. There are secret Bush documents that were altered, connections with the Bin Laden family. When this film is seen in my country it will be a constant revelation. They will understand how the lie was concocted. And they know, thy will want to act correctly, because the American people does not stand for lies, it just needs the information.

The movie takes on Bush but it does not take into account that he alone is not responsible for the attack. Other members of the "coalition" like Tony Blair or Jose Maria Aznar are treated much more kindly. Why you hardly talk about them?

The fact is that I am an American and I don't think it appropriate to discuss people from other countries. The biggest problem is at the White House and that is what we need to fix first. What bothers me is that Blair is an intelligent person. What's he doing with Bush? Is the strangest pair I've seen in my life.

"The coalition of the willing", as Bush said…

Look at what happened to those who tried to warn us: Canada, Germany, and France. They tried to tell us we were wrong, and what did we do? We ridicule them. It's a shame. They are our real friends, those who try to tell us the truth at our face. If it hadn't been for the French, the US would not exist. The beautiful statue that symbolizes freedom in New York is a gift from France. And we make fun of them.

Why do you think the American TV does not show the images of Iraq you have in Fahrenheit?

You'd have to ask ABC, NBC CBS, Fox and CNN why they don't do their work better…

The movie does not speak to those who are in agreement with your point of vies. Will it not be difficult to change the opinion of the average American republican and conservative?

My movies in the US are not shown in "arts' rooms. They are shown at malls, movie complexes, reach a public much larger than the typical documentary. There was a poll at the exit of Bowling…and 70% of the people said it was the first time they saw a documentary in a theater. I know people will go see it. Miramax is committed to give it ample distribution in all cities of middle America.

In a way it is a continuation of Bowling…, it show how far the exploitation of fear and paranoia can go…

It's the same idea. It is an attempt to manipulate the people toward social and racial hate. Here is already a massive hysteria as it was clear with the Antrax scare. They try to distract the public from what is really happening. Look, with no proof at all they managed to convince 70% of the people that Saddam had ties with Al Qaeda and possessed the blessed weapons of mass destruction that still are nowhere to be found. Bush and his people have the population in state of constant fear, and they surrender freedom in exchange for an illusion of security.

Is the terrorist threat false?

I am not saying there are no terrorists. It's a dangerous world… we have to take precautions. But the way Bush does it is absurd.

The movie makes clear that the concepts of "freedom" and "democracy" have nothing to do with the real reasons for the Iraq war.

They send thousand of young people to war to fill their pockets and those of their benefactors. It's immoral. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and they all are immoral. There is no noble mission.

Is the version of Fahrenheit we saw the final one?

Miramax gave us money to actualize it if necessary. From now to the unveiling we have five weeks to do so, something important may happen and e need to add it. But I would not anticipate great changes. And less after having won the Gold Palm. We don't want to ruin it….

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