Flint was released Monday for the American debut of the latest film by famous documentary filmmaker Michael Moore.

Moore strongly criticizes the democratic establishment and the general political system of the United States in the documentary "Fahrenheit 11/9". He is also targeting Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. Flint's water crisis is at the center of the film.

Ariana Hawk, mother of Sincere Smith, Flint's young boy who, at the age of 2, became the face of Flint's lead water crisis when he appeared on a cover of Time magazine in 2016, arrived early. Ms Hawk said the film should help draw national attention to the city, where she says the water crisis is not over.

She and others have called for greater reinvestment in large scale infrastructure, including water supply systems, and focused on the youngest victims of the crisis. 39, water most affected by exposure to lead. change of water source in 2014.

"I hope people will see the truth, that people will be able to see this film and understand that people still hear suffering because of the effects of water," Hawk said.

"There are families here who still can not drink water, who are always affected by what the water has done to them, I know it, I still live it."

Collette Metcalf, a resident of Flint and a water activist, says she still suffers from the effects of water. "Since the crisis, I've had Barrett's esophagus and I can not do more than an activity for more than 10 minutes without losing my breath, and a rare cancerous tumor has been removed from my breast, "said Metcalf. "We are always asking for help, we are always hurting ourselves here."

Moore, who arrived late for the premiere at the Whiting Theater, gave a defiant tone as the city crowd greeted him.

"There is a process at work here that started long ago, its purpose is to pull out our democracy," he said. He said before the lights fall: "We are like the French resistance in the 40s with the tanks rolling in Flint."

Dr. Lawrence Reynolds, a pediatrician in Flint and a member of Snyder's Flint Task Force, called for continued repairs to the water distribution system.

"It takes proper tax and technical staff to carry out the task, and it's the state that has to provide these funds as soon as possible," Lawrence said.

He said that Moore's film "draws attention to the fact that we organize our states for the benefit of businesses and not residents, and if that opens the minds of people and they vote , so maybe we'll see a change. "

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician known to have revealed high levels of blood lead in Flint's children, is featured in the film. Hanna-Attisha said she hoped the film would send a message about the needs and future health of the residents, especially Michigan leaders and the Trump administration.

A question-and-answer session after the screening became a contrasting study between Moore and Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician having a more optimistic tone for Flint's future.

"If you catch someone at home poisoning your children, what would you have the right to do? You would stop them by any means necessary," Moore said. "I do not call for violence, I'm really pacifist, but it surprises me when we sit here tonight, sitting in the governor's chair and nothing happened to him."

Hanna-Attisha reminded the crowd, "It never happened because the people of Flint are resilient. When we heard the magnitude of the crisis, we all felt angry. but we know that people here are also strong. The children I care for are brilliant and strong, and many of them knew that the way forward was not to riot the streets and capsize.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has initiated criminal proceedings against 15 officials, including members of the Snyder administration, in connection with the water crisis.

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