If Michael Moore‘s latest film doesn’t have you stirring with pride for the wonders of nationalised health and left wing politics then stir some cream instead. Really fast.
Sicko‘s shots of London made me feel a big shot of loved-up-ness for its architecture, public spaces and people. Yeah, I felt patriotic for the first time since returning home from travelling and reminding myself what a cream tea was. The people made it, though – it seemed that everyone MM interviewed in France and Canada just didn’t have that sense of wry humour that the British seem to have about everything. It was Bill Bryson who drew my attention to this, and when I see these videos it confirms what he said. We speak to laugh. We love sarcasm and especially irony. Bryson tells a story about walking down his drive in the rain, when he sees through the downpour that his neighbour is also out. Bryson says, “nice weather, isn’t it?” with a grin. To which his neighbour responds, “no it isn’t, it’s raining”. I love that.
Anyway, see Sicko. It’s not perfect. Particularly the bit about Guantanamo Bay, in which MM buys the government’s descriptions of the inmates as the crème of terror, although he makes up for it by shipping some of the 9/11 rescue workers – who are still waiting for help at home! – over to Cuba to have them sorted with only their names and date of birth needed. Amazing, and moving. For me, as a Briton, Sicko rocks for reminding me of what we are so fond of forgetting; that we inhabit a utopia. Albeit, a developing utopia.
This might hurt a little
Tags: Review
