Bowling For Columbine

Michael Moore, Canada / USA / Germany, 2002, 120 minutes

"The media, the corporations, the politicians... have all done such a good job of scaring the American public, it’s come to the point where they don’t need to give any reason at all."

Michael Moore’s intelligent, insightful documentary is one of the big success stories of independent cinema in recent years. It's a true amalgamation of entertainment (through Moore’s humane but humourous monologues, and some of the bemusing attitudes of his interviewees) and moralistic education (with careful consideration of factual information backing up a well-balanced argument). This moving film offers great rewards to the viewer, no matter what their views upon it’s core subject: that of the laws restricting gun use in America (or rather lack thereof) and the Americans’ attitudes towards these.

Using the tragic events of Columbine High School as its dramatic focus, the documentary paints a wide picture of the misdirection of the American public by those who hold the power (i.e. the corporations, media et al) and yet ignore all principles that power should hold them to. Featuring interviews with Columbine High School students, a representative of Lockheed-Martin (a company that manufactures, amongst other aircraft essentials, weapons of mass destruction), shock-rocker Brian Warner (whose voice is more clear and concise, and well-reasoned than many of those who condemn him for such atrocities), and - for the coup de grace - an impromptu encounter with the president of the NRA, Charlton Heston. This last interview is definitely the film’s highlight, with the renowned actor receiving far more than he bargained for as he attempts to justify his views on gun culture.

With Moore’s deft handling of compelling, topical issues it is gratifying that the film achieved the success that it did, becoming the highest-grossing documentary of all time. Specially awarded at the Cannes Film Festival (where a 55th Anniversary Award was created specifically for ‘Bowling for Columbine’), this thought-provoking film should not be missed by anyone who even has a passing interest in its subject.

Review by Ben Wilkinson
Written for EUFS Programme Autumn 2003