>>REVIEW
SICKO
DIRECTED BY Michael Moore
Opens Friday, June 29
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Sicko serves as an exposé of the flawed American health care system. Of course, it is expected that this documentary would be a sad tale of those unfortunate souls who cannot afford basic health insurance — this is not the case. In fact, Moore takes a light and comical approach, and does us one better by focusing on average middle-class Americans – folks no different from the film’s audience. This move pays off.
From secret White House footage of conversations between Richard Nixon and his advisors to unforgettable speeches by President George Bush, Moore shows us what goes on behind closed doors. It is enough to instigate mass emigration to Canada, France and Great Britain. In fact, at the end of the film Moore sarcastically announces a way out for Americans by posting a web address: www.hookupwithacanuck.com (p.s. this website isn’t real, I tried it.)
The film not only shows us stories of those who died at the hands of governmental malpractice and money-mongering health insurance vendors, but Moore also travels to "more fortunate" countries with government-controlled public health care – Canada, France, England and Cuba. He is stunned to find out that there are no cash registers or debit machines at these hospitals, which would make any Canadian laugh.
Of course, his information is based on the basics and ignores some facts. Each system does have its flaws. In Canada, we pay for ambulance rides and medications are very expensive unless the person has a benefits package from their employer. In France, health insurance exists above-and-beyond basic social security, which usually covers approximately 60 per cent of costs. When watching the film it is important to keep these three words in mind: basic health care. Americans rehash the nightmare, the French and the British can sit back comfortably in their seats and look on with amazement and Canadians get a sense of fear and insecurity knowing full well that privatization of our health care system is in the works. |
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