description Roger and Me Overview
Roger and Me is a 1989 documentary film directed by Michael Moore in his feature directorial debut. The film examines the economic impact of General Motors plant closures and subsequent layoffs in Flint, Michigan. Moore utilizes a satirical, first-person approach, structuring the narrative around his attempts to interview then-GM CEO Roger Smith. It was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2013.
insights Ranking position
Roger and Me ranks #178 of 552 in the Documentary ranking, behind Dogtown and Z-Boys, ahead of The Central Park Five.
help Roger and Me FAQ
Why is Roger Smith absent from most of Roger and Me?
Michael Moore structures the film around his unsuccessful attempts to interview General Motors chairman Roger Smith. Smith's inaccessibility becomes part of the documentary's argument about the distance between corporate leaders and Flint workers.
What happened in Flint that prompted Michael Moore to make Roger and Me?
General Motors announced major plant closures and job losses in Flint during the 1980s. Moore follows residents confronting unemployment, eviction, and failed efforts to reinvent the city's economy.
Why was the timeline in Roger and Me controversial?
Critics argued that the film rearranged some events rather than presenting them in strict chronological order. Moore defended the construction as a truthful representation of Flint's broader experience.
Why was Roger and Me added to the National Film Registry?
The Library of Congress selected it in 2013 as a culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant American film. Its confrontational first-person approach also helped establish Michael Moore's later documentary style.
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