“Roger and Me”: A Searing Indictment of Capitalism
1. Introduction
In “Roger and Me”, Michael Moore wears two hats, of the filmmaker and of the main character, as he tries to get an interview with GM CEO Roger Smith. The film is a documentary background to Moore’s story, as well as an alternative narrative element, in that it covers Flint, Michigan during the years when General Motors began to downsize its workforce.
2. The Film Review
The documentary “Roger and Me” by Michael Moore is a searing indictment of capitalism, corporate greed, and the devastating impact of deindustrialization on working-class communities. In the film, Moore tells the story of how GM began to downsize its workforce in Flint, Michigan, resulting in mass layoffs and plant closings. He chronicles the human stories of those impacted by the plant closings, as well as the struggle of workers to save their jobs.
The film is both humorous and tragic, as Moore uses his wit and humor to highlight the absurdity of the situation, while also shining a light on the very real human tragedy that has unfolded in Flint. “Roger and Me” is a powerful and moving film that is essential viewing for anyone interested in understanding the realities of late-stage capitalism.
3. The Documentary Background
“Roger and Me” is a documentary background to Moore’s story, as well as an alternative narrative element, in that it covers Flint, Michigan during the years when General Motors began to downsize its workforce. The film chronicles the human stories of those impacted by the plant closings, as well as the struggle of workers to save their jobs.
4. Michael Moore’s Story
The film “Roger and Me” is Michael Moore’s story about how GM began to downsize its workforce in Flint, Michigan in the 1980s, resulting in mass layoffs and plant closings. He chronicles the human stories of those impacted by the plant closings, as well as the struggle of workers to save their jobs. The film is both humorous and tragic, as Moore uses his wit and humor to highlight the absurdity of the situation, while also shining a light on the very real human tragedy that has unfolded in Flint.
5. The Alt Narrative Element
The film “Roger and Me” is not only a documentary background to Moore’s story, but also an alternative narrative element. In addition to covering Flint during the years when GM began to downsize its workforce, the film also covers other aspects of American society during this time period. For example, Moore interviews people from all walks of life about their experiences with unemployment, poverty, and crime. He also highlights how government policies have contributed to these problems.
6. Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in Michigan that was hard hit by GM’s downsizing in the 1980s. In “Roger and Me”, Michael Moore chronicles the human stories of those impacted by the plant closings, as well as the struggle of workers to save their jobs. The film is both humorous and tragic, as Moore uses his wit and humor to highlight the absurdity of the situation, while also shining a light on the very real human tragedy that has unfolded in Flint.
7. GM CEO Roger Smith
GM CEO Roger Smith is the target of Michael Moore’s ire in “Roger and Me”. Moore tries to get an interview with Smith, but is unsuccessful. He instead focuses on the human stories of those impacted by GM’s downsizing in Flint, Michigan. The film is both humorous and tragic, as Moore uses his wit and humor to highlight the absurdity of the situation, while also shining a light on the very real human tragedy that has unfolded in Flint.
8. The Spectacle
The film “Roger and Me” is a spectacle in its own right. In addition to being a documentary background to Moore’s story, it is also an alternative narrative element. The film covers Flint during the years when GM began to downsize its workforce, resulting in mass layoffs and plant closings. It chronicles the human stories of those impacted by the plant closings, as well as the struggle of workers to save their jobs. The film is both humorous and tragic, as Moore uses his wit and humor to highlight the absurdity of the situation, while also shining a light on the very real human tragedy that has unfolded in Flint.
In conclusion, “Roger and Me” is a searing indictment of capitalism, corporate greed, and the devastating impact of deindustrialization on working-class communities. In the film, Michael Moore tells the story of how GM began to downsize its workforce in Flint, Michigan, resulting in mass layoffs and plant closings. He chronicles the human stories of those impacted by the plant closings, as well as the struggle of workers to save their jobs. The film is both humorous and tragic, as Moore uses his wit and humor to highlight the absurdity of the situation, while also shining a light on the very real human tragedy that has unfolded in Flint. “Roger and Me” is a powerful and moving film that is essential viewing for anyone interested in understanding the realities of late-stage capitalism.
works cited:
“Roger and Me.” IMDb, IMDb.com, 20 Dec. 1989, www.imdb.com/title/tt0098213/.