European Tour of Good Ideas
by Helen Caswell
First of all, don't expect the new Michael Moore documentary, Where to Invade Next, to be a movie about war. The title refers to Moore's concept of 'invading' European countries to steal their good ideas about work time off, education, incarceration of drug offenders and what to feed our children.
"We have problems no army can solve," Moore says in the opening minutes, and he proceeds from one European country to the next and one inspired solution to the next, sharing the innovative approaches a dozen societies across the Atlantic have adopted.
Where to Invade Next Docu-comedy-mentary Written and directed by Michael Moore At the Salem CinemaCan you imagine addressing the 'war on drugs' by not arresting anyone for 15 years, and seeing the drug rates plummet? That would be Portugal's method.
There, in contrast with the "millions and millions of black men who are arrested for drug offences and who, when released from jail have lost the right to vote in America" according to the filmmaker, Portugal has a society where a policeman says, in all seriousness, "human dignity is the backbone of our society."
And where the Minister of Health, when asked why no one is incarcerated when "drugs cause damage to families," replies, "So does Facebook. You going to get rid of that?"
Where in the US can you find a public high school sex class where a middle aged teacher encourage youth to take their time with their first experiences, to pay attention to their partner's needs? It wouldn't go over well here, but it happens in France. And French schools, even the poorest, serve delicious, thoughtful, healthy food at lunch on quality plates; 4-course meals with dishes like fillet of cod with dill sauce or tomato salad with couscous – and the meals costs less than the food served in American schools.
How about a garment factory where workers are middle- class employees who receive 8 weeks of paid holiday a year? It's in Italy.
"It's their right and it's our pleasure," says one of the company's owners. When asked why not pay lower wages and keep more money, another owner replies, "What's the point of being richer? It's important to work next to people who are smiling."
And if you're wondering where in the world to find a room full of educators who agree, "School is about finding out what makes you happy," the answer would be Finland, which has the best educated students in the world. Homework in Finland is kept to mere minutes a day, the teachers say, because "these kids have a lot of other things to do after school," including time with family, time with friends and playing music because "your brain has to relax now and then," and allowing that rest "help brains work better and students accomplish more."
It is a lyrical, fast-moving, lighthearted tour, with deeply serious subject matter rising to the surface at every turn. Moore is clearly being selective, choosing imperfect countries for their best qualities, or, as he says, aiming "to pick the flowers and not the weeds." But the bold innovations he finds in other places are unexpected and revelatory, and the connections he makes are often genuine.
One of the most endearing aspects of the film is the genuine astonishment Europeans show when Moore reveals disheartening truths about American culture. An Italian couple who consider it normal to receive 8-weeks of paid vacation every year can hardly believe that many Americans get no paid vacations or holidays at all. A Finnish educator is amazed to learn that poetry, art and music are not usually taught in American public schools.
The film is unapologetically one-sided with a progressive banner worn gleefully on its sleeve. It's not always even-paced, its approach is more scattershot than rigorous and some viewers may tire of Moore, who is ever-present, or his expressing surprise at things he surely knew he was going to be told.
But the sheer quantity of unexpected ideas and the power of the good these policies do, make Where to Invade Next a must-see for every Oregonian who cares about the possibility of making things better.
Written by: Salem Weekly on February 17, 2016. Source: European Tour of Good Ideas
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