Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, known for his provocative critiques of American politics, institutions, and culture, this week premiered his newest project—Where to Invade Next, an exploration of European countries that value progressive policies and quality of life.
Opening at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Thursday, the satirical documentary received “eager laughter and frequent applause,” writes the Hollywood Reporter.
While its title implies a judgment of U.S. military policy, the film is, in fact, “an impishly entertaining, career-summarizing polemic bent on demonstrating how other countries around the world—with their happy workers, superior schools, humane prisons, healthy sexual attitudes and fully empowered women—are putting U.S. progress to shame,” writes Variety.
Made under a veil of secrecy—and, as some reviewers noted, with perhaps an intentionally misleading title—Where to Invade Next became known by its crew as “Mike’s Happy Movie.”
“No problems, all solutions,” Moore said at the premiere. “Most people have a conscience and know right from wrong and they’re just afraid or ignorant, and once those things get fixed we’ll stop living in fear and being stupid.”
Watch the trailer below: