Watch Manufacturing Dissent

Manufacturing Dissent is a 2007 documentary film that offers a critical look at popular filmmaker, Michael Moore, and his career. The film is directed by two Canadian filmmakers, Debbie Melnyk and Rick Caine, who set out to explore the reasons behind Moore's rise to fame and the effects it has had on his reputation. The film begins by examining Moore's origins in the working-class city of Flint, Michigan, and his early career as a journalist and filmmaker. Melnyk and Caine highlight Moore's penchant for turning his personal experiences into political commentary, as well as his tendency to use humor and exaggeration to make his points. They also acknowledge the impact of Moore's groundbreaking documentary film, Roger & Me, which put him on the map and set the tone for his future work.

However, Manufacturing Dissent quickly pivots to examine Moore's less savory qualities. The filmmakers argue that Moore's films often present a simplistic and one-sided view of complex issues, and that he prioritizes entertainment value over accuracy. They use interviews with academics, journalists, and former colleagues to illustrate Moore's reliance on selective editing, misleading statistics, and staged scenes to create his narratives.

Melnyk and Caine also delve into Moore's relationships with his former colleagues and associates, many of whom claim that he is more concerned with promoting himself than advancing progressive causes. The filmmakers draw attention to Moore's tendency to take credit for the work of others, and his alleged mistreatment of interns and junior staff members.

Throughout the film, Melnyk and Caine make clear that while they do not necessarily disagree with Moore's politics, they take issue with his methods. They argue that by presenting such a simplified and biased view of political issues, Moore is doing a disservice to his audiences, who may come away from his films with a distorted view of reality.

In addition to featuring interviews with Moore's critics, Manufacturing Dissent also shows the filmmakers conducting their own investigations into Moore's tactics. They attend Moore's book signings and public appearances, asking him tough questions about his work and confronting him with evidence of his misrepresentations. The confrontations are often awkward and uncomfortable, as Moore refuses to engage with their criticisms and instead resorts to personal attacks on the filmmakers.

Ultimately, Manufacturing Dissent paints a complex portrait of Michael Moore as a talented but flawed filmmaker who has prioritized his own celebrity over the accuracy and integrity of his work. While the film is clearly critical of Moore, it is not a hatchet job, nor is it a total takedown of the filmmaker. Rather, it presents a nuanced and thoughtful examination of the ways in which a well-meaning progressive icon can sometimes become part of the problem he is trying to solve.