Sicko

Director: Michael Moore

Starring: Michael Moore, George Bush, Hilary Clinton, Tony Benn

Following the success of Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore’s latest offering, Sicko, is an attack on America’s health system. Moore sets out to examine the lives of the 250 million Americans who do have health insurance yet are still denied healthcare at every opportunity by profit-oriented health maintenance organisations (HMOs). After taking the audience through a number of heart-breaking case studies, Moore then travels to Canada, Great Britain, France and even Cuba and discovers that healthcare provision does not have to be as exclusive as in the USA.

As always, Moore knows how to tug at our heart strings, and he uses this to his full advantage in Sicko. His case studies range from a mother whose toddler was refused treatment and consequently died, to several volunteer rescue workers who cannot get treatment for the serious respiratory problems they picked up whilst helping out with 9/11. Each case is interesting to watch and gives the documentary a more personal feel, strengthening Moore’s overall attack on the HMOs.

Moore balances the depressing reality with the occasional and appropriate humorous break; his visualisation of the fear aroused by the phrase ‘socialised medicine’ in America really is a laugh out loud moment. He is also not scared of making himself look a fool as he wanders through an NHS hospital in astonishment as each patient in turn tells him that they haven’t had to pay for their treatment.

In his effortless style, Moore debunks all arguments against universal healthcare and exposes the real monetary reasons for America’s selective health system. The sources he relies on to back up his argument are believable and varied. He talks to people within the American system which gives the viewer a first-hand account of the atrocities the HMOs have committed. He also interviews people within the health systems of various nations and gives the viewer a great comparison between America and the rest of the world in terms of healthcare provision. In short, Moore is thorough and slick with his argument.

This is a shocking and persuasive documentary, and one that will make you glad to be living in Great Britain! It goes highly recommended to fans of Moore’s other works and even more so to those who have not yet engaged with one of today’s most credible documentary makers!

Julia Huntenburg