Clinton or Trump: Gathering Votes and Voting Through Cinema

Since the time Americans became acquainted with cinema and tasted its flavor, cinema, especially the Hollywood variety, has become so intertwined with their lives that sometimes it becomes very difficult to distinguish between film and reality, whether Hollywood has drawn from the real lives of people or if people are mimicking cinematic characters in their lives. This is why film and cinema hold a special place in the realm of U.S. presidential elections. Apart from the high-profile television advertisements that candidates create to promote their work and policies or to attack their rivals, filmmakers also consider the presidential election period as an opportunity to promote their favorite candidate or simply to capitalize on the situation and make money. For years, alongside the advertising and campaign efforts of presidential candidates in the U.S., numerous films, mostly documentaries, have been released, and among them, Hillary Clinton, as the Democratic Party's nominee in the election whose results will be revealed next week, has been the subject of a large portion of these films. Although Hollywood has always found Hillary Clinton an attractive character for storytelling, and has copied a character from her in films like 'Primary Colors', most of the films related to her are documentaries made by Republicans that address issues that have not left Hillary alone in recent years, from Benghazi and personal servers to the Clinton Foundation's finances. On the other hand, Donald Trump, aside from small roles he has had in various Hollywood films, has also been the subject of several documentaries due to carrying the title of Republican Party nominee and not causing much controversy during his year-long campaign. The close relationship between Hollywood and the presidential election is evident in that some cinema lovers, who happen to not be fond of Trump, have created a list of films that, although made years ago, apparently depict a future that awaits Americans if Trump becomes president: from 'Citizen Kane' to David Cronenberg's adaptation of Stephen King's 'The Dead Zone', which features a character who is a mad president believing that his destiny lies in pressing the button of America's nuclear missiles against the enemy. Meanwhile, Michael Moore, the American documentary filmmaker and creator of works like 'Bowling for Columbine' and 'Fahrenheit 911', did something different: he released a film that significantly differs from other election-related films in America. Moore is a sharp documentary filmmaker concerned with social issues, and it is natural that these days he is thinking about an election outcome that is said to affect the fate of people worldwide. Moore's latest film, titled 'Michael Moore in TrumpLand', was released about a month before the election and quickly became a box office hit (the full version of this film is available on YouTube). However, Moore's film is not just another film. He traveled to Wilmington, Ohio, known for having no Hillary Clinton supporters, and goes on stage in the cinema of this city to engage with the audience. The result of his conversations with these viewers became the film 'Michael Moore in TrumpLand', which on a superficial level appears to be a film supporting Hillary Clinton. However, Michael Moore is not just an ordinary supporter of Hillary; he initially intended to vote for Bernie Sanders, and when the Democratic Party chose Hillary as its nominee and he became terrified of the 'horrific' future Trump would bring, he began supporting Hillary. Like many who detest Hillary and her family in America, he admits at the beginning of the film that Hillary is not without flaws and reads a letter to Trump supporters, saying he understands them, knows why they are frustrated and angry, and realizes they feel they have nothing left but a vote they want to cast for someone who claims he is not like other politicians who have spat on Washington and the government apparatus. Moore continues his dialogue with the audience present in the cinema, urging them and Trump supporters to think again before casting their votes and to consider the future more, lest they fall into the 'horrific' future that Trump will bring. However, before that, he realistically and gently recounts how Hillary became the despised character she is today, explaining that Hillary did not become the person we see today in a vacuum; rather, the American people have also contributed to this process with their misogyny and distrust towards her. Michael Moore, a winner of prestigious awards like the Oscar and Cannes, has managed to provide a comprehensive perspective in his latest film, which is also available online, looking at both sides of the current electoral competition that will end on Tuesday, November 8, and reflecting the American society with all its ugliness and beauty in a mirror.