Michael Moore Has Powerful, Ugly Story To Tell

Whatever you think of Mr. Moore, there's no question he's detonating dynamite here.

From a variety of sources — foreign journalists and broadcasters (like Britain's Channel Four), freelancers and sympathetic American TV workers who slipped him illicit video — he supplies war-time pictures that have been largely shielded from our view.

Michael Moore, Red-Hot and Golden
'Fahrenheit 9/11' Wins Palme d'Or at Cannes

"The jury is proud to announce that 'Fahrenheit 9/11' has won the Palme d'Or."

"What have you done?" Moore jokingly asked Tarantino, president of the 57th Cannes Film Festival jury, at the podium. "I am completely overwhelmed by this. Uh, uh, merci."

Moore's movie -- a President Bush-bashing production that enjoyed almost universal acclaim from international critics and festival-goers -- had been the hottest ticket in the town. Now it was the toast of it. And the portly, bearded filmmaker, who beat out 18 other films for the top prize, was staring dumbfoundedly at the tuxedoed, bejewelled audience giving him a prolonged standing ovation.

For Moore, the win was more than an artistic triumph. It amounted to a political hand grenade lobbed at the White House. The documentary makes no bones about its point of view: that President Bush's invasion of Iraq amounted to a diversionary tactic -- to take attention away from Bush's personal and business links with oil-rich Saudi Arabians, including members of the bin Laden family. It also portrays the president as out of his depth as a leader.

"I have a sneaking suspicion, thanks to what you have done here and the response of everyone at this festival, you will ensure that the American people will see this movie," Moore said. Later he joked, "I'm happy to announce now we have a distributor in Albania. Which means every country but one can see it."

He dedicated his award to his daughter and "to all the children in America and in Iraq, and throughout the world who suffer as a result of our actions."