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| Fifth Column |
| Poles call Moore's 9/11 film 'Propaganda' |
| 2004-07-24 |
| Michael Moore's contentious film Fahrenheit 9/11 has opened in Poland, with some film critics likening it to totalitarian propaganda. Gazeta Wyborcza reviewer Jacek Szczerba called the film a "foul pamphlet". He said it was too biased to be called a documentary and was similar to Nazi propaganda director Leni Riefenstahl. But politicians opposed to the country's involvement in the US-led occupation of Iraq have urged people to see the film. "In criticising Moore, I have to admit that he has certain abilities - Leni Riefenstahl had them too," Mr Szczerba said in his review. "Michael Moore will not convince Poles with his film," the Rzeczpospolita newspaper said in its review. People are very sensitive to aggressive propaganda, especially when it pretends to be an objective documentary or a work of art." The Polish government has supported the US-led operations in Iraq, and the Poles are in charge of a 6,200-strong force in southern Iraq. More than 2,000 Polish troops are currently serving in Iraq. "The film contained some propaganda, but there was also a lot of truth in it," Pole Elzbieta Karwinska, 58, said after seeing the film. "But I see no direct connection between the film and the Polish army in Iraq. I think that Poland is in Iraq for completely different reasons." This week, an Australian government minister described Moore as "the quintessential ugly American", after the film maker criticised the Australian prime minister's support of US President George Bush, saying: "What is John Howard doing in bed with an idiot?". |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |
| #2 Few Americans realize the depth of passionate friendship the Poles and some other eastern europeans feel for Americans and America. Today and tomorrow, and for many years to come, I believe that when push comes to shove, Poland will be one of the few that stands strong with us. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2004-07-24 10:14:30 PM |
| #1 Michael Moore will not convince Poles with his film I'm afraid he already has some convinced. But...they would have already been convinced without Michael Moore's help. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-07-24 9:17:55 PM |