Sicko_-_Michael_Moore_Documentary

How would you feel if your country, a developed country had worse health conditions than that of a third world country' How would you feel if you couldn’t get treatment because if your illness' And how would you feel if your family member died when they could have been saved' Michael Moore’s documentary “Sicko” created in 2007, protests against the corrupt health system and health insurance companies in America. In the years of the 21st century, many began questioning their health system; however no one provided the truth. This is where Michael Moore comes into the picture. Article 25 from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights founded in 1945 says: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family.” If this is the case; then why is it that 50 million American’s had no health insurance in 2007' In the years of the 21st century equality fails to exist in America, the access to health isn’t visible across the board and the abuse of the Human Rights Declaration leaves injustice done to Eleanor Roosevelt, who fought for more than 10 years for it. Hospitals and doctors in America work much differently than in Australia, they do not treat any patient if they are unable to pay. Moore’s protesting means can be seen through various film techniques such as: * Anecdotes * Sound effects * Facts and stats, and * Camera angles Moore has presented over 50 anecdotes by various people all over the world. You think the note book is a tear jerker' Watch Sicko! The stories are factual, real and heartbreaking. Dawnelle Keye’s 3 year old daughter, Mychelle, suffered from a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius and like any other responsible mother she called 911 and took Mychelle to the nearest hospital, Kaiser Hospital. However, when they arrived at the hospital, they told her they wouldn’t be able to treat her daughter or give her any antibiotics; therefore they transferred her to Martin Luther King Hospital in her own car, to make her own way. When she arrived there, they also refused to treat her, because her health insurance didn’t cover this ‘issue’ and it wasn’t regarded as ‘life threatening’. Mychelle got worse and worse, she developed a seizure and after hours of delay was then transported back to Kaiser Hospital, just in time, as her daughter went under a cardiac arrest. The doctors worked on Mychelle for half-an-hour however it was too late. She had expired. Knowing Kaiser Hospital could have saved her at the very beginning is the most disturbing part about this story. Moore’s effective repetitive use of anecdotes and close camera shots creates an intimate relationship between the composer and the responders. The horrific anecdotes stand as a metaphor for the basslessness of the act, committed by health insurance companies. Anecdotes are stories by individuals on their experiences which add a human and personal dimension which informs us of the corrupt health system and reflects the context of the documentary. It also provides us the option to act, and stand up for our rights. The importance of protests is derived from these anecdotes because people are now exposed to the true colours of health insurances companies as well as hospitals. After watching these anecdotes readers feel a sense of pity, compassion and loss, yet at the same time they are angered and mortified because they know justice needs to be made. Moore displayed the list of health causes that would not be covered by a major health insurance company, using the star wars music in the background. (Sing music). All those disease names you just saw on the screen are not covered by Becky’s health insurance. And was only from the letters A to H, so one could just imagine how long the list actually is. His use of sound effects camera angles and allusion to star wars is satirical; it creates humour however has a serious message behind it. Moore is comparing America’s health insurance to a fictional TV program, therefore implying that their health system is essentially a joke. The subtle yet direct means of protesting emphasises the appalling quality of health in the states and allows responders to act upon this. Protests are significant in obtaining the rights of people; one who does not protest can easily be seen as a part of the damage or afraid to seek for help, “In the states, people are afraid of the government. They’re afraid of acting up. They’re afraid of protesting, and afraid of getting out.” Moore lends his credible character, to project the voices of millions who are afraid to seek justice and who are afraid to seek what is rightly theirs. Moore is not the only protestor in this documentary, everyone who was a part of this film is essentially protesting, and they know that through the power of people change can occur fast. Flabbergasting facts and stats are revealed such as: Fact no.1: The higher rejections to patients made by doctors in America means they attain more bonuses. You can see in this graph that his denials are high, and his bonuses are off the roof! Fact no.2: The 9 11 terrorists who are now residing in Guantanamo Bay Prison receive better health insurance than most American’s. Hero’s of 9 11 are receiving worse health care than the terrorists, how terrific is that' Fact no.3: Politicians in America are being paid to by major health companies to keep their mouths shut, so they don’t introduce a new health bill into parliament. That’s right! George Bush, the so called saviour of the nation was paid $891, 208, so almost a million dollars. Fact no.4: A medicine in America is $120, in Cuba it is 5c, the exact same brand and exactly the same quality. As a viewer of this documentary I was shocked, and even embarrassed. And I’m not even living in United States. Through Moore’s overwhelming exposure, responders observe the reality of their health care system. These facts and stats produce a sense of betrayal and humility; it creates an emotional atmosphere which is powerful in getting people to protest. The audience feels dejected, and are left in fear for the future; however Moore offers protest as a means of demolishing the abuse of power. His indirect manner of protest essentially becomes a call to arms, and has compelled people through bombarding our senses by horrifying facts and stats. Anecdotes, sound effects, camera angles and facts and stats, this is how Michael Moore protests against the corruption of America’s health system in his film. Through this documentary Moore offers a voice of reason, and an overall understanding of the importance of protesting is made through this film, viewers realise that the power of people and action can in fact change the world. One who fails to respond to this film ultimately fails to comprehend the effects of the film, and protesting in general.