Watch Sicko

In his 2007 documentary film, Sicko, filmmaker and activist Michael Moore sets out to investigate the American healthcare system and its shortcomings, compared to other countries around the world. Through interviews with healthcare professionals, patients, and politicians, Moore uncovers a host of issues facing Americans seeking medical treatment, including high costs, denial of coverage, and lack of access to preventative care. He contrasts this with the experiences of citizens in other countries such as Canada, France, and the United Kingdom, where healthcare is considered a fundamental right and is provided to all regardless of income.

Moore's film is broken up into several distinct sections, each focusing on a different aspect of the healthcare crisis in America. In the first, he documents the experiences of everyday people who have been denied coverage and left to suffer due to the greed of insurance companies. One particularly moving scene involves a couple who lost their daughter to leukemia after their insurance company refused to pay for a potentially life-saving bone marrow transplant.

From there, Moore takes us on a journey around the world, visiting countries with socialized healthcare systems that provide affordable care to their citizens. He interviews doctors and patients alike, and contrasts their experiences with those of Americans struggling to pay for basic medical expenses. In one memorable scene, he visits a hospital in Havana, Cuba, where he marvels at the quality of care provided despite the country's limited resources.

Sicko also delves into the political and economic forces driving America's healthcare crisis. Moore interviews several experts who explain how the for-profit model of American insurance companies has led to skyrocketing costs and a focus on profits over patient care. He also examines the close relationship between the insurance industry and politicians in Washington, highlighting how campaign contributions from these companies often sway politicians' decisions on healthcare policy.

Throughout the film, Moore employs his signature blend of humor and outrage to underscore the gravity of the healthcare crisis in America. He takes aim at everyone from the insurance industry to pharmaceutical companies to politicians on both sides of the aisle. But amidst the anger and frustration, there is also a sense of hope. Moore highlights several examples of communities coming together to provide healthcare for their own, free from the constraints of the profit-driven healthcare system.

Overall, Sicko is a powerful and thought-provoking film that exposes the flaws of America's healthcare system and offers a glimpse of what could be possible with a more compassionate and equitable approach. While it may not provide all the answers to this complex issue, it is a valuable and timely contribution to the ongoing debate about how best to care for our citizens' health.

Sicko is a 2007 documentary with a runtime of 2 hours and 3 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.0 and a MetaScore of 74.