Canadian nurses to see Sicko for free: distributor

Last Updated: Friday, July 13, 2007 | 12:01 PM ET

CBC Arts

Inspired by the Alberta nurses who recently handed out free tickets to Michael Moore's Sicko, the film's Canadian distributor will provide free admission to all Canadian nurses next week.

Michael Moore applauded the Edmonton nurses union for handing out free tickets to Sicko last week and offered to reimburse it.
(Associated Press)

Alliance Atlantis announced on Thursday that it will provide free admission to the health-care documentary for nurses across the country from Monday through Thursday.

"We applaud the United Nurses of Alberta for their enthusiasm and hope to encourage others in the nursing profession to see the film that continues to spark debate across this country," Alliance Atlantis said in a statement.

In Edmonton on July 4, the Alberta nurses union bought and handed out 150 tickets to Moore's Sicko, a scathing critique of the U.S. privatized health-care system and portrait of several citizens who were refused vital treatment. The documentary also compares the U.S. system to those in Canada, the U.K. and France.

"Sicko is an excellent vaccination against that privatization disease," said Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta.

After hearing about the ticket giveaway, Moore congratulated the union and offered to reimburse it for the tickets it had distributed in Edmonton.

"Nurses across Canada are on the front line in the battle against those forces who want to inch the Canadian health-care system toward the American way. They know that once a Canadian sees Sicko, the last thing they will want is an American-style approach," Moore said in a statement.

"The problems that do exist with the Canadian system are a result of it being under-funded. The solution to better health care in Canada cannot be found south of the border."

Nurses must present photo ID and proof of their profession at a Cineplex, Empire or Landmark theatre showing Sicko.

Sicko begets more controversy for Moore

Even before the film's release, the latest from the controversial, Oscar-winning Moore had landed him in hot water. 

Michael Moore, right, joined hundreds of members of the California Nurses Association in June as they marched from the Capitol to a nearby Sacramento theatre to watch Sicko.
(Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press)

The documentary features scenes of the 53-year-old director taking several Sept. 11 rescue workers to Cuba to receive free medical care and the U.S. Treasury Department has launched an investigation into whether he broke the U.S. trade and travel embargo against the communist nation.

After being notified about the investigation, Moore said he stashed a copy of the film in a Canadian "safe house" for fear of it being seized by U.S. authorities.

"I had to literally get a master of my film brought to Canada here so it could be safely placed in a country that would not violate my civil liberties," Moore said in an interview with CBC Radio in June.

Ahead of the film's official release, Moore offered multiple sneak preview screenings, including at the Cannes Film Festival in May, in London, Ont., and at a Democratic party fundraiser in Michigan last month.

He also took part in a number of health-care related events, including joining hundreds of California nurses on a march.