F911 opens in Hawaii

The Star-Bulletin reports on the opening of 'Fahrenheit 9/11' in Hawaii. The Maui News has an article as well.

The Maui News
Saturday, June 26, 2004

Big choir sings praises after Moore's preaching

By VALERIE MONSON, Staff Writer

KAHULUI - If the reaction from the first Maui showing of Michael Moore's controversial documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11," is any indication, President George W. Bush will be looking for another job after 11/2, Election Day this year.

"I've been rather apolitical, but seeing something like this really opened my eyes," said Theresa Fradin, still somewhat shaken from the emotional film that skewers Bush while accusing him, his father and their associates of stealing the 2000 election, ignoring the warning signs before the terrorist attacks on New York and invading Iraq for no good reason.

A half-hour before the 1 o'clock show Friday afternoon at Queen Ka'ahumanu Center, the line already had stretched to the railing of the second floor of the mall. By the time the previews began, the only seats left were in the front row, something that rarely happens at a matinee, according to an employee of the Consolidated Theater.

"If anything, I guess I would compare it to 'The Passion of the Christ,' " said the employee, who asked not to be identified because of company policy.

Inside the cinemaplex, the anti-Bush passion exploded in bursts of laughter when Moore rolled footage that made the president look like a stooge, low growls when the administration was portrayed as sinister and wild applause when the final credits played. It didn't appear there was a Republican in sight (anyway, no one who was wearing it on their sleeve), although longtime Maui Democratic leader Masaru "Pundy" Yokouchi was.

"I liked it, but then I'm a Democrat," said Yokouchi with a laugh. "Being a Democrat, I always thought this war was unnecessary. I thought it would be a rallying point for the terrorists. Now, you have people in the Middle East who think we're the devil."

Yokouchi said he couldn't predict whether the film, which won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, would have a lasting enough effect to help tip the election in John Kerry's favor in November.

Joe Fradin, Theresa's husband, said the makeup of the audience would have to change for that to happen.

"The problem is that the people who need to see this aren't going to," said Fradin.

Anna Benson agreed, but had hope that word-of-mouth would create interest in a broader cross section of the country that might otherwise stay at home.

"If enough of Main Street, America, sees this, it will affect the vote," said Benson. "I think it will motivate people."

While many in the audience were focused on their anger with Bush and the war, Joe Fradin paid particular attention to Moore's interviews with the oft-forgotten veterans who have seen their benefits cut under the Bush hand.

"It was good they showed what they're not doing for the veterans," said Fradin.

Also in the theater was 93-year-old William Vitarelli, the esteemed advocate for peace who reminded the Bush stompers of another side of the film's meaning.

"I'm elated about one thing," said Vitarelli. "In spite of the degradation of what was exposed, we were allowed to see it in this country. In a lot of other countries, we would never have been allowed to see it. But I'm also a little depressed and hope this will help change things."

Dot Buck was passing out "Billionaires for Bush" bumper stickers. Obviously, she was neither a billionaire nor a fan of Bush.

"It put a face on the people who have been lying to us," said Buck of the film. "It revealed a lot of things that the public doesn't know about. It scared the hell out of me."

Brad and Kim Breitbach drove all the way from Lahaina just to see it, leaving their newborn son in grandma's care. For Brad Breitbach, the documentary evoked a bundle of emotions. While he says he has not trusted Bush since the president took office, he has a brother who is serving in Iraq and the brutal scenes of the war were not easy to watch.

"I thought it was a pretty powerful piece of cinema that supports what I believe," said Brad Breitbach. "Michael Moore is the kind of everyman who fights for the underdog - he's the everyman of our generation. When he speaks, the elite shudders."

While Breitbach will recommend the movie to his brother in the war zone, he won't preach.

"I support his decision," he said.

Kim Breitbach was wracked with emotions, too. As she watched the scenes of fighting in the Middle East, she wondered what the future held for their baby boy.

"I kept thinking about my son and what the world is going to be like when he's grown up," she said.

The movie was rated "R," another controversy, because it means young people 17 and under need an adult to accompany them. The Breitbachs said video games contained much worse scenes than "Fahrenheit." There's also the irony that a young man or woman only a year older could be sent to Iraq and see the bloodshed in person.

Outside the theater, waiting with the relatives he was visiting from Milwaukee, 16-year-old Aaron Wojciechowski planned to get someone to see the film with him.

Wojciechowski says he's tired of constantly dodging the military recruiters at his high school, trying to get the kids to join the armed services. Oddly enough, there's a similar bizarre scene in Moore's film.

"They think the war is really good," said Wojciechowski. "I think the president is making the wrong moves. It (the war) just isn't right."

Valerie Monson can be reached at vmonson@mauinews.com.

Posted: Sat - June 26, 2004 at 04:26 AM

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F911 opens in Hawaii

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