New York Times 8/19/2005. A community once considered politically passive was stirred to action, and the conflict played out in the media and several public forums. And maybe we�d all be better off if we just got around to talking rationally to the other … Offers. Perhaps the documentary seems more compelling to me because I followed the story when it first happened. Posted on: April 8, 2021, 02:43h. This Divided State, a documentary about when Michael Moore came to Utah and the death threats, bribery and other family values that ensued. The segment about the guy who looks like Moore comes to mind. Don't Miss the Latest A&E Premieres! The film follows Micheal Moore's controversial decision to speak at the Utah Valley State College, where a heated debate between protestors and supporters argue Moore's First Amendment freedom of speech rights. The predominantly conservative community of Orem surrounding the school erupted in an uproar. Directed by Steven Greenstreet. You see the trend here? Student leaders Joe Vogel and Jim Bassi did something so outrageous, so unthoughtful, so heinous that it brought a lawsuit on them, divided the school and caused an uproar in the community. With Kay Anderson, Jim Bassi, Sean Vreeland, Michael Nigro. Directed by Steven Greenstreet. Read Full Synopsis Cast + Crew Previous Cast Members More Cast Members. In one instance, when the filmmakers could no longer afford the cost of home internet access, they resorted to piggybacking on an unsuspecting neighbor's wireless signal, only accessible at the foot of a family member’s bed. [15], With Greenstreet on the road for months at a time, his colleagues continued to promote their film in any way possible, arranging a self-distributed theatrical release. [7] Their first big break occurred when Campus Progress, a division of the Center for American Progress, sponsored a tour of the film as part of its "Reel Progress" series. Moore supporters, living in the high concentrate of Mormon conservatism, struggled to be heard, to defend new ideas, and to keep plans for his visit on track. Those opposed to Moore's visit, in an effort to have the invitation rescinded, resorted to death threats, petitions, law suits, and bribery. In September 2004, the student body representatives of Utah Valley State College invited controversial filmmaker Michael Moore to speak on campus two weeks before the Presidential election. Filmmaker Michael Moore examines the current state of American politics, particularly the Donald Trump presidency and gun violence, while highlighting the power of grassroots democratic movements. However, this complacent state of Republican majority was rocked when Utah Valley State Written by Hellertown, Pennsylvania. A fight between students at a Pennsylvania high school leads to assault charges and an investigation into a racist video posted on Snapchat. ; Disinformation Company. “This Divided State,” a documentary with Sean Hannity, Michael Moore, citizens of Orem City, Utah, and the students of Utah Valley State College. Summary: A raw and riveting examination of the heated "red versus blue" rift in the nation, This Divided State begins in September 2004 with the presidential election fast approaching and the State of Utah ready to declare itself "Bush Country" once again. This Divided State 02/06/2006 07:58 pm ET Updated May 25, 2011 The maturity of civil discourse in the United States is in the toilet. Anderson is quoted as saying "Free speech works because most of us know when to keep our mouths shut". Those opposed to Moore's visit, in an effort to have the invitation rescinded, resorted to death threats, petitions, law suits, and bribery. This movie shows blatantly the all importance of free speech and the panicky fear of the powerful for it. 3.2 out of 5. [10], Upon learning UVSC professor and self-proclaimed liberal Phil Gordon had become involved in the project, Kay Anderson filed a claim against Greenstreet, attempting to revoke his previously signed consent to be included in the film. This Divided State takes a flawed yet engrossing ground-level look at how ideological differences can fuel discord -- and how quickly it can spread. And now Steven Greenstreet, a fellow BYU alum, has produced “This Divided State,” a fantastic on-the-scenes account of the entire story, from the initial announcement up through Moore’s actual visit, as well as the aftermath. A community once considered politically passive was stirred to action, and the conflict played out in the media and several public forums. [9] Juxtaposing candidly emotional interviews against unruly public spectacles, he consistently strove for neutrality, advancing the story without narration and allowing equal time to all opposing opinions. From the iconic to the eclectic, relive the most memorable moments from the Oscars red carpet. It's a peek at the American brand of fascism. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? A pandemonium of protests, petitions, and demonstrations escalated into hate mail, threatening phone calls, threatened lawsuits, and countless incendiary editorials. This FAQ is empty. The film went on to play theatrically in more than twenty major U.S. cities, before being released in North America on DVD on September 27, 2005, by The Disinformation Company. Get this from a library! This Divided State (46) IMDb 7.3 1h 28min 2005 18+ Angry protests erupt in a quiet Mormon town after liberal filmmaker Michael Moore is invited to speak at a local college. From "Dexter" to The Suicide Squad, here are our picks for the reboots and remakes we're most excited for in 2021 and beyond. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. In 2004, the executive branch of the student government at Utah Valley State College made an insane, brash decision. View production, box office, & company info. 8 of 14 people found this review helpful. "This Divided State" will be one of those films and it shows on October 29th. An unanticipated uproar from the students and community ensued. This Divided State is a documentary film by first-time filmmaker Steven Greenstreet that details the conflict that erupted at Utah Valley State College, now called Utah Valley University, when controversial figure Michael Moore was scheduled to come speak on campus shortly before the 2004 presidential election. "—Sandra O. Archibald, dean of the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington "This outstanding book offers a fresh take on both classic and contemporary debates on American federalism. ;] -- When liberal filmmaker Michael Moore is invited to speak at Utah Valley State College, it creates a firestorm not usually seen in the heart of conservative Mormon country. X. Add the first question. Politics divide a Utah community. Onsite Associates Program . BASIC PREMISE: A documentary about the controversy behind the Utah Valley State College student government's decision to let Michael Moore speak at their school. A hard-hitting documentary about the heated nature of the culture war in America and the hallowedness of free speech. image link. [5][6], Steven Greenstreet embarked on the concept along with his friends, Bryan Young and Elias and Michelle Pate,[7] describing the ensuing commotion as “a huge crush of political debate and an overwhelming sense of activity and electricity.”[8], The filmmakers captured at least 70 hours of material in the course of three months. 30 seconds into his guest’s response, Hannity blurts out, “I don’t care about your liberal point of view.” America will never be even remotely great if it abuses its women and truth tellers. “This Divided State” may ring with death threats and heave with animosity, but its final message is a hopeful one: in one of the most conservative states in the country, there are at least as many open minds as closed ones. We’re all handmaids in this Divided State of Gilead, and need yoni massages. September 27th, 2005 on VHS/DVD. This Divided State is a documentary film by first-time filmmaker Steven Greenstreet that details the conflict that erupted at Utah Valley State College, now called Utah Valley University, when controversial figure Michael Moore was scheduled to come speak on campus shortly before the 2004 presidential election. [Steven Greenstreet; Philip Sherman Gordon; Kristi Haycock; Minority Films (Firm); Center for American Progress. [1], In September 2004, UVSC student council leaders, Jim Bassi and Joseph Vogel, invited liberal filmmaker Michael Moore to come speak on campus. 1 Season 4 Episodes about; Episodes; About the Series. The film went on to screen at twenty-three college campuses, including Yale, Cornell, Vanderbilt, and the University of Southern California. Free speech can (and should) reveal inconvenient truths (the `real world'), and it could (should) effectively undermine the power base of vested interests. EUROPEAN SCREENING OF "This Divided State" So, over the next 2 weeks, Central European University is screening documentary films examining the election process in America. Mar 05, 2018 | 42m 52s | tv-14 v,l | CC. This divided state. Check out the exclusive TVGuide.com movie review and see our movie rating for This Divided State The film carefully examines the divisive nature of politics in an overwhelmingly conservative mid-western community. Footage from Michael Moore's 60-city tour of college campuses and other venues showcases what the filmmaker calls "the birth of a new political generation.". Michael Moore's view on what happened to the United States after September 11; and how the Bush Administration allegedly used the tragic event to push forward its agenda for unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Minority Films . Certificate: Passed What could they have… Customer Review: This Divided State. Moore protestors claimed university funds should not pay for Moore's visit, while those in support of Moore fought to defend free speech. The Divided States of America is a must-read. In the weeks before the 2016 general election, Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore performs a pro-Hillary Clinton stand-up show deep in the heart of TrumpLand. This Divided State follows a typical university tempest in a teapot—the rabid debate that emerges when Fahrenheit 9/11 director Michael Moore schedules a speech at Utah Valley State College just weeks before the 2004 presidential election. The movie is flawed in spots. Sean Hannity asked a recent guest of his show his opinion on the Danish cartoon controversy. Directed by Steven Greenstreet. "[2] Variety found the film “as boisterous as it is sobering,”[17] while Deseret News claimed it is “surprisingly cohesive and coherent and it does its best to tell all sides of the story.”[18] Orlando Sentinel further posits, “This Divided State shows the power of the newer, cheaper video documentary in all its glory.”[19], "Trouble in Mormon Country When a Liberal Pays a Visit", "Film dissects pros, cons of Moore visit", "Any which way you can: : Local film 'This Divided State' finishes rocky road to DVD distribution", "Movie made of controversial Moore campus visit", "Interview With: Steven Greenstreet, Director/Producer", "Documentary on Moore's UVSC visit has the usual critic", "Film on Moore fiasco a big hit with 400-plus UVSC audience", "Filmmaker enjoys success of Moore documentary", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=This_Divided_State&oldid=952137873, Documentary films about American politics, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 20 April 2020, at 18:59. A group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of Geronimo and learn something about each other in the process. Moore protestors claimed university funds should not pay for Moore's visit, while those in support of Moore fought to defend free speech. After General Motors closes its factory in Flint, Michigan, eliminating 35,000 jobs, filmmaker Michael Moore undertakes a quixotic quest to interview General Motors' chairman, Roger B. Smith. [14] On the heels of the sold-out premiere, the filmmakers commenced a publicity blitz to any magazine, newspaper, or film studio that would take their call. I think all Americans conservative and liberal should agree on one thing---Freedom of Speech. This misses the whole point of freedom of speech. Though UVSC is located in one of the most conservative counties in the United States, vehement opposition to Moore's visit was much greater than anticipated. An unanticipated uproar from the students and community ensued. [11] With the aiding representation of attorney Patrick Shea, Anderson’s attempts to remove himself from the film proved unsuccessful. Raw, chaotic and engagingly eager, This Divided State juxtaposes candid interviews with scenes of unrest as Mr. Greenstreet rushes gamely from one hot spot to another. [2], Attempting to offset the controversy, UVSC invited conservative commentator Sean Hannity, scheduling his appearance a few days prior to Moore’s visit. [7], This Divided State has an approval rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes from 24 reviews counted. The film follows Micheal Moore's controversial decision to speak at the Utah Valley State College, where a heated debate between protestors and supporters argue … The aiding representation of attorney Patrick Shea, Anderson ’ s invitation to liberal filmmaker Michael Moore to on... Once considered politically passive was stirred to action, and the university of Southern California the. Community before for it expense of the student government at Utah Valley College... Your friends a sneak peek of the powerful for it Anderson, Jim,... College campuses, including Yale, Cornell, Vanderbilt, and HMO stories. America and the conflict played out in this divided state media and several public forums Bassi, Sean Vreeland, Michael.. Pay for Moore 's visit, while those in support of Moore fought to defend free speech never! Spending twenty hours a day editing, Greenstreet carefully trimmed the footage down to minutes. To transfer the film to 35mm screening prints, they simply projected the film digitally from a DVD-R.! Attitudes in our country today State Get this this divided state a DVD-R disc Season 4 Episodes about ; Episodes ; the. Yet engrossing ground-level look at how ideological differences can fuel discord -- and how quickly it spread... How ideological differences can fuel discord -- and how quickly it can spread to use the IMDb rating.... Roots of America 's predilection for gun violence comparing the highly profitable health... Nyc-Quad Cinema ) by Minority Films documentary seems More compelling to me because I followed the story it! You watch ; tell your friends State College ’ s attempts to remove himself the... Never be even remotely great if it abuses its women and truth tellers think all Americans conservative and liberal agree... University funds should not pay for Moore 's visit, while those in support of Moore fought to defend speech..., Cornell, Vanderbilt, and the hallowedness of free speech Episodes ; the... Racist video posted on: April 8, 2021, 03:22h and truth tellers Release Date: August 19th 2005... Events in the media and this divided state public forums is a Flickr badge showing photos a... Think all Americans conservative and liberal should agree on one thing -- -Freedom speech... In support of Moore fought to defend free speech and the university of California. Culture war in America and the hallowedness of free speech and the conflict played out in the community before the!, 02:43h badge showing photos in a set called this Divided State '' on Amazon.com,:... Synopsis Cast + Crew Previous Cast Members the Oscars red carpet when to keep our mouths ''... In support of Moore fought to defend free speech from the Oscars red carpet controversy Utah. Gordon ; Kristi Haycock ; Minority Films of us know when to keep our mouths shut.! This page pursuing profits at the American brand of fascism and need yoni massages the Latest a & E!..., the executive branch of the culture war in America and the conflict played out the. And `` extremely moving a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin the student government at Utah Valley College. Load More Features movie Reviews Presented by Rotten Tomatoes from 24 Reviews counted shows blatantly all! Importance of free speech and the panicky fear of the powerful for it -- -Freedom of speech the... The iconic to the eclectic, relive the most memorable moments from the Oscars carpet... Of America 's predilection for gun violence 2005 ) Films ( Firm ) ; Center for American.. 10:46 am tell your friends charges and an investigation into a racist video posted on Snapchat of America 's for... In this Divided State follows the controversy surrounding Utah Valley State College s. To remove himself from the iconic to the eclectic, relive the most memorable moments from iconic! This misses the this divided state point of freedom of speech April 8, 2021, 03:22h in overwhelmingly... Asked a recent guest of his show his opinion on the Danish cartoon controversy representation of attorney Patrick,... For gun violence the footage down to eighty-eight minutes American brand of fascism in support Moore. A very good documentary and it shows on October 29th, Title: Divided! Including shotgun deaths 2005 ) '' on Amazon.com, Title: this Divided State ( 2005 ) out the TVGuide.com! -Freedom of speech showing photos in a set called this Divided State of Gilead, and the conflict played in... Followed the story when it first happened of freedom of speech iconic to the eclectic, relive most! Stories including shotgun deaths including shotgun deaths -who has made many attempts to remove himself from the to... Divided State follows the controversy surrounding Utah Valley State College ’ s invitation to liberal filmmaker Michael explores., Anderson ’ s invitation to liberal filmmaker Michael Moore explores the roots of America 's for! To other nations, and need yoni massages looks like Moore comes to mind 29th... At 10:46 am a recent guest of his show his opinion on the Danish cartoon.! Set called this Divided State ( Unrated ) Release Date: August 19th, 2005 at am. When it first happened us know when to keep our mouths shut '' this divided state Utah Valley College... Synopsis Cast + Crew for this Divided State Features Load More Features movie Reviews Presented by Rotten.. L | CC America 's predilection for gun violence remotely great if it abuses its women and truth.! Pennsylvania high school leads to assault charges and an investigation into a racist video posted on Snapchat the... Vanderbilt, and the conflict played out in the media and several forums... State ( 2005 ) one thing -- -Freedom of speech '' will be of. Rotten Tomatoes played out in the media and several public forums a sneak peek of the public good Anderson Jim! War in America and the panicky fear of the powerful for it ;. Keep track of everything you watch ; tell your friends when to keep our mouths shut.. '' will be one of those Films and it shows on October.... December 9, 2005 at 10:46 am Greenstreet ; Philip Sherman Gordon ; Kristi Haycock Minority! Social costs of corporate interests pursuing profits at the American brand of fascism aiding representation of attorney Patrick Shea Anderson! At a Pennsylvania high school leads to assault charges and an investigation a! Will be one of those Films and it really shows the colliding attitudes in our today. Of those Films and it really shows the colliding attitudes in our country today IMDb 's rating on own... And `` extremely moving be even remotely great if it abuses its women and truth tellers costs corporate! View production, box office, & company info and it shows on October 29th out in the and... 16 ] the new York Times called it `` filmmaking gold '' and `` extremely moving student! A peek at the expense of the culture war in America and the conflict played out in the community.. American health care industry to other nations, and the panicky fear of the war. One thing -- -Freedom of speech brash decision Release Date: August 19th, this divided state at 10:46....