This Divided State follows the controversy surrounding Utah Valley State College's invitation to liberal filmmaker Michael Moore to speak on campus. 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. Equally surprising, however, was the overwhelming support for Moore, vocalized by students and community members previously considered "apathetic." Debate between Moore supporters and Moore protestors raged openly in the media and public forums. Death threats, hate mail, bribes, and lawsuits were all candidly captured on film.
Sirpa reviewed This Divided State (2005)
Is there anyone without an opinion about Michael Moore?
I have yet to meat such person. Cinematicly this was not a very high level film, but then again it was no big budget Hollywood film anyway. It's still one to get an emotion out of you and I think that's what good movies do. Even if you hate it, one of the purposes of making a film has been fulfilled.
The issue in this film is Michael Moore, or so it seems at first. I think the real issues go a lot deeper than that. It's about facing your own prejudice and intolerance and how you deal with it. It's about freedom of speech. It's about how you deal with people you disagree with. It's about friendship. It's about who we really are and so much more. I have to say I liked it, even though it was hard to watch it at times.
One of the characters in the film, Kay Anderson commented the film in these words: “Well, Steve succeeded in making everyone look stupid." To which Greenstreet later replied, “If I did anything to make people look stupid, it was just to hit the record button"