Fahrenheit 9/11

Fahrenheit 9/11 is a documentary film directed by Michael Moore that explores the presidency of George W. Bush and the War on Terror, particularly the September 11 attacks and the Iraq War. The film features interviews with George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and other key figures, including Donald Rumsfeld and Condoleezza Rice. It also examines the relationships between the Bush family, the Bin Laden family, and the Saudi royal family, including Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. The documentary highlights the events leading up to the Invasion of Iraq and the subsequent Occupation of Iraq, with appearances by Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, and Vladimir Putin.

Background

The idea for the film originated from Michael Moore's experiences during the 2000 United States presidential election and the subsequent Presidency of George W. Bush, which was marked by controversy, including the Florida election recount and the Supreme Court of the United States' decision in Bush v. Gore. Moore was inspired by the works of Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn, and he drew parallels between the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) and the Vietnam War, citing the involvement of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger. The film's title is a reference to Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451, which explores the themes of censorship and dystopia, and the events of September 11 attacks, which were also referenced in works like The 9/11 Commission Report and The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright. The documentary features footage from CNN, Fox News, and Al Jazeera, as well as interviews with Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, and Ted Koppel.

Production

The production of the film involved a team of researchers, including Jay Patterson and Carl Deal, who gathered footage and conducted interviews with key figures, such as John Ashcroft, Colin Powell, and Paul Wolfowitz. The film was edited by Kurt Engfehr and Todd Woody Richman, who worked with Michael Moore to create a narrative that explored the complexities of the War on Terror and the Patriot Act. The film's score was composed by Jeff Gibbs, who incorporated music from Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Eminem. The production team also consulted with experts, including Richard Clarke, Joseph Wilson, and Hans Blix, to provide context and analysis of the events depicted in the film.

Content and Themes

The film explores several themes, including the War on Terror, the Patriot Act, and the USA PATRIOT Act, which were signed into law by George W. Bush and supported by John Ashcroft and Robert Mueller. It also examines the relationships between the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, including the roles of Pervez Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif. The documentary features footage from Guantanamo Bay detention center and Abu Ghraib prison, highlighting the issues of torture and human rights abuses, which were investigated by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The film also explores the impact of the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) and the Iraq War on civilians, including the experiences of Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman.

Release and Reception

The film premiered at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and was released in the United States on June 25, 2004, by Lions Gate Films and IFC Films. It received widespread critical acclaim, with praise from critics like Roger Ebert and Owen Gleiberman, and won several awards, including the Palme d'Or and the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The film was also a commercial success, grossing over $220 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing documentary films of all time, alongside Super Size Me and An Inconvenient Truth. The film's release was supported by MoveOn.org and The Nation, and it was screened at events like the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention.

Controversy and Criticism

The film was met with controversy and criticism from some quarters, including Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, which accused Michael Moore of bias and inaccuracy. The film was also criticized by George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, who accused Moore of partisanship and distortion. The documentary was also challenged by Debbie Schlussel and David Horowitz, who accused Moore of anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism. However, the film was defended by Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn, who praised its critique of imperialism and militarism, and by The New York Times and The Washington Post, which praised its journalism and investigative reporting.

Impact and Legacy

The film had a significant impact on the 2004 United States presidential election, with some arguing that it helped to galvanize opposition to George W. Bush and the Iraq War. The film also inspired a new generation of documentary filmmakers, including Alex Gibney and Laura Poitras, who have gone on to make films like Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room and Citizenfour. The film's legacy can be seen in the work of Glenn Greenwald and Julian Assange, who have used documentary filmmaking to expose government secrecy and corporate corruption. The film has also been recognized as a landmark work in the documentary film genre, alongside The Act of Killing and The Look of Silence, and has been named as one of the greatest films of all time by Sight & Sound and The Guardian. Category:Documentary films