Fahrenheit 9/11

Fahrenheit 9/11 is a documentary film released in 2004 and directed by American filmmaker Michael Moore. It deals with the causes and consequences of the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States, making reference to the subsequent invasion of Iraq led by that country and Great Britain. In addition, it tries to determine the real extent of the alleged links between the families of the President of the United States at the time of the attacks, George W. Bush, and the Bin Ladens, the wealthy family of Osama bin Laden.

The title of the film refers to the novel Fahrenheit 451 (233 °C, representing the temperature at which paper burns), written in 1953 by Ray Bradbury, and also to the attacks of September 11, 2001 (in the United States the format to represent dates consists of placing the month first, followed by the day, so "September 11" is usually written as "9/ 11"). The film's tagline gave a clearer explanation of the meaning of the title: "The temperature at which freedom burns". Ray Bradbury protested against the novel's use of the title by him.

Suggesting "the temperature at which freedom burns," this documentary highlights the relationship between the Bush family and those close to it, with eminent members of Saudi Arabian families (including the family of Bin Laden) in a relationship that spans more than thirty years, as well as the evacuation of relatives of Osama bin Laden organized by the George W. Bush administration after the September 11 attacks. Although said business relationship between the Bush and Bin Laden clans is not disputed, it is not widely known.

From there, the film provides clues about the real reasons that prompted the Bush administration to invade Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003, actions that, according to Moore, correspond more to the protection of the interests of US oil companies than to to the desire to liberate the respective peoples or avoid potential threats. The documentary insinuates that the war with Afghanistan was not primarily aimed at capturing the leaders of Al Qaeda but rather to favor the construction of an oil pipeline, and that Iraq was not a real threat to the United States at the time of the invasion but a potential source of benefits for American companies.

Synopsis

The film opens by suggesting that George W. Bush's friends and political allies on Fox News Channel skewed the 2000 election by prematurely declaring Bush the winner. He then suggests that the handling of the Florida voting controversy recount of the 2000 US presidential election in Florida constituted Voter Fraud.

The film then cuts to the attacks of 9/11. Moore says Bush was informed of the first plane to hit the World Trade Center on his way to an elementary school. Bush is then shown sitting in a Florida classroom with children. When told that a second plane has hit the World Trade Center and the nation is "under attack," Bush allows the students to finish reading their book, and Moore points out that the reading continues hard. almost seven minutes.

Moore then discusses the complex relationships between the US government and the Bush family; and between the bin Laden family, the Saudi Arabian government, and the Taliban, spanning more than three decades. Moore then claims that the US government evacuated 24 members of the bin Laden family on a secret flight shortly after the attacks, without subjecting them to any form of questioning.

Moore goes on to examine the service record of the George W. Bush Air National Guard. Moore contends that Bush's dry hole oil well attempts were partially financed by the Saudis and by the bin Laden family through the intermediation of James R. Bath, whose name appears to have been redacted from Bush's records. Moore argues that these conflicts of interest suggest that the Bush administration is not serving the interests of the American people. The film goes on to suggest ulterior motives for the War in Afghanistan, including a natural gas pipeline through Afghanistan to the Indian Ocean.

Moore alleges that the Bush administration caused a climate of fear among the American population through the media. Moore then describes the alleged counterterrorism efforts, including government infiltration by anti-war groups and other events, and the signing of the USA PATRIOT Act.

The documentary then turns to the topic of the Iraq War, comparing the lives of Iraqis before and after the invasion. The citizens of Iraq are depicted as living relatively happy lives before the invasion of the country by the US military. The film also strives to demonstrate alleged cheerleaders in the American media and general biases of journalists, with quotes from embedded news organizations and journalists. Moore suggests atrocities will take place in Iraq and shows footage showing prisoner abuse.

Later in the film, Lila Lipscomb appears with her family after learning of the death of her son, Sgt. Michael Pedersen, who was assassinated on April 2, 2003 in Karbala. Distraught and tearful, she begins to question the purpose of the war.

By tying together various themes and points, Moore congratulates those who serve in the US military. He says that America's lower class is always the first to join the military, so better-off people don't have to to do it. He claims that these valuable troops should not be sent out to risk their lives unless it is necessary to defend America. The credits roll as "Rockin 'in the Free World" by Neil Young. (Originally, Moore intended to use the Who's 'Won't Get Fooled Again', but was denied permission by Pete Townshend.)

Moore dedicated the film to his friend who was killed in the World Trade Center attacks and to the servicemen and women of Flint, Michigan who died in Iraq: "Michael Pedersen, Brett Petriken and all the soldiers in the area Flint who have died in the Iraq War... Bill Weems and the 2,973 who died on September 11, 2001... and the countless thousands who died in Afghanistan and Iraq as a result of our actions.

Awards and vicissitudes

The film was awarded at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, obtaining the Palme d'Or, the most important award given by that festival. The last documentary to receive this award was The Silent World by Jacques Cousteau and Louis Malle 48 years ago.

This film was originally going to be distributed by Icon Productions. However, Fahrenheit 9/11 was later picked up by Miramax when Icon relinquished distribution rights to the film in May 2003, citing image conflicts while claiming their decision was not influenced by political motives. Miramax had previously distributed another Moore film, The Big One, in 1997.

Quotes from director Michael Moore

• Speech given by Michael Moore when he was awarded the Palma de Oro in the fifty-seventh edition of the Cannes Film Festival:

• I can't begin to express my appreciation and my gratitude to the jury, the Festival, to Gilles Jacob, Thierry Frémaux, Bob and Harvey at Miramax, to all of the crew who worked on the film. [...] I have a sneaking suspicion that what you have done here and the response from everyone at the festival, you will assure that the American people will see this film. I can't thank you enough for that. You've put a huge light on this and many people want the truth and many want to put it in the closet, just walk away. There was a great Republican president who once said, if you just give the people the truth, the republicans, the Americans will be saved. [...] I dedicate this Palme d'Or to my daughter, to the children of Americans and to Iraq and to all those in the world who suffer from our actions.

Translation: "I can only express my affection and gratitude to the jury, to the Festival, to Gilles Jacob, Thierry Frémaux, Bob and Harvey de Miramax, to all the team that has worked on this film. [...] Something makes me suspect that with what they've done here today and everyone's response at the festival will get many Americans to watch the movie. I can't help but thank you. They are helping to clarify this; there are many people who want the truth and another who wants to hide it in the closet, just look elsewhere. On one occasion a great Republican president of the United States said: "If you only give people the Truth, the Republicans, the Americans will be saved." [...] I dedicate this Palm of Gold to my daughter, to the American children, and to Iraq, and to all those who in the whole world are suffering for our actions."

• On the increase in the popularity of documentaries:

• Audiences love a good story, whether through fiction or non-fiction. I don't start out making a documentary but rather a good movie. Non-fiction is taking itself out of the ghetto and documentary filmmakers are finding new and inventive ways to tell their story. I'm pleased and I hope it continues.

Translation: "The audience loves a good story, whether fiction or not. When I start, I'm not thinking of making a documentary but a good movie. The documentaries are coming out of their own ghetto and the filmmakers who make documentaries are discovering new and creative ways of telling their stories. I like this and I hope it will continue."

• About the fact that the Palma de Oro is a French award:

• There was only one French citizen on the jury. Four out of nine were American. [...] This is not a French award, it was given by an international jury dominated by Americans.

Translation: "On the jury there was only one French citizen. Four of the nine were American. [...] This is not a French award: it has been awarded by an international jury dominated by Americans."

• About the impact of Moore as a filmmaker:

• The first impact I want is that audiences leave the theatre and say that was a good two hours of my time. Making this as a movie comes before the politics. If I wanted to make a political speech, I would have been a politician. I chose to be a filmmaker. I love movies.

Translation: "The first thing I want is for the audience to say that "These were two hours well employed in my time." Making this a good film is more important than politics. If I wanted to make a political speech, I should have made myself political. [But] I decided to be a filmmaker: I love movies."

• About what you may or may not believe:

• The film begins with them putting their makeup on. I consider them as actors. In fact, I forgot to thank my actors, thank you George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz...

Translation: "The film starts with them [George W. Bush and others] makin'. I consider them actors. In fact, I forgot to thank my actors: thank you George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz..."

• What the president of the jury told him (Quentin Tarantino):

• Quentin whispered in my ear, ‘we want you to know that it was not the politics of your film that won you this award. We are not here to give a political award. Some of us have no politics. We awarded the art of cinema, that is what won you this award and we wanted you to know that as a fellow filmmaker.

TranslationQuentin whispered in my ear: "We want you to know that you have not won this title for his political message. We don't give political awards here. Some of us do not have a defined political position. We're looking for the art of filmmaking. That is what this award has given you and I want you to know it as a film partner."