If there is one thing that unites Americans, it is our intense, and often deadly, fear of each other. At least that is the feeling one gets after seeing “Bowling for Columbine.” With this film, director Michael Moore attempts to tackle what has always been a controversial issue: guns.
Although it could be said that “Bowling for Columbine” examines Americans’ love of guns and this love affair’s effect on violence in the country, the footage in the film ultimately covers a much wider scope.
Moore goes to a bank that doubles as a licensed firearms dealer. He talks to militia members from Michigan. He visits Virgin, Utah, a town that requires all its citizens to own a gun. Moore even ventures into a National Rifle Association convention.
Moore travels from Michigan to California to gather testimony. His question-and-answer sessions are both humorous and alarming. Moore interviews a surprisingly articulate Marilyn Manson, South Park creator Matt Stone, the brother of Oklahoma City bomber Terry Nichols and a tongue-tied Charlton Heston.

However, all roads lead to Columbine High School. At the center of Moore’s film is Littleton, Colo., where — in April 1999 — two boys opened fire on their classmates.
While other countries may own as many firearms and have equally violent histories, video games and movies as our country, the number of people killed by guns in the United States is at least twice that of England, Japan, Germany or Canada.
The jumble of testimony and footage seems to boil down to one question: Why are so many Americans killing each other?
The closest thing to an answer that “Bowling for Columbine” gives is fear — fear instilled early on by the constant parade of media violence. It’s a fear promoted for the benefit of corporations. At least, that’s what Moore points his finger at.
Through the juxtaposition of various images and sound bytes, as well as the narrative guidance of Moore’s familiar-sounding voice, the film explores government, corporation and media hypocrisy.
One of the better examples is Moore’s interview with Lockheed Martin personnel. The missile manufacturing giant, which ironically has a plant in Littleton, Colo., provides an interesting contrast to the violence at Columbine. The viewer is forced to compare the actions of our government with gun violence committed by individuals — and ask themselves what the difference is.
The movie also includes security tape footage of the Columbine shootings played to silence. Whether or not this was appropriate, the black and white images evoke strong emotions.
Sobering and alarming, “Bowling for Columbine” is an example of powerful and moving cinema. The film is playing now at the Bijou Art Cinemas.
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