Film Lens
This Divided State is a documentary by Steven Greenstreet that focuses on the controversy surrounding Michael Moore's scheduled appearance at Utah Valley State College in September 2004. The film captures the intense reactions from the predominantly conservative community of Orem, Utah, where students and local residents protested against the use of university funds for Moore's visit. The documentary presents a range of voices, including those who supported Moore's visit and those who opposed it, highlighting the political divide in the community.
The film features key figures such as UVSC student council leaders Jim Bassi and Joseph Vogel, who invited Moore, and local real estate mogul Kay Anderson, who offered $25,000 to cancel the event. The filmmakers recorded over 70 hours of footage, which they edited down to 88 minutes, presenting the events without narration to allow for a balanced representation of differing opinions. The film was released in theaters across the U.S. and later on DVD in September 2005.
Why Watch
- •See the clash over Michael Moore's campus visit.
- •Meet local figures like Kay Anderson and Sean Hannity.
- •Find out how a community reacted to political division.
- •Watch the impact of free speech on a college campus.
Did You Know
•Michael Moore was invited to speak at UVSC in September 2004.
•Sean Hannity's travel costs for his appearance totaled $49,850.
•Kay Anderson offered UVSC $25,000 to cancel Moore’s appearance.
•The film was edited down from over 70 hours of footage.
•This Divided State won an audience-based award for Best Documentary in 2005.
Perfect For
Political activismCollege campus debatesFree speech issuesDocumentary filmmaking