Why do 11,000 people die in America each year at the hands of gun violence? Talking heads yelling from every TV camera blame everything from Satan to video games. But are we that much different from many other countries? What sets us apart? How have we become both the master and victim of such enormous amounts of violence? This is not a film about gun control. It is a film about the fearful heart and soul of the United States, and the 280 million Americans lucky enough to have the right to a constitutionally protected Uzi. From a look at the Columbine High School security camera tapes to the home of Oscar-winning NRA President Charlton Heston, from a young man who makes homemade napalm with The Anarchist's Cookbook to the murder of a six-year-old girl by another six-year-old, Bowling for Columbine is a journey through America, through our past, hoping to discover why our pursuit of happiness is so riddled with violence.
A brief shot of the cover of Marilyn Manson's infamous "Mechanical Animals" album is seen. Manson is shown in the cover with fake breasts and a vagina, which are obviously digitally created and not very graphic. This is a close-up shot, but it doesn't last very long.
violence
The film includes archival footage of actual killings using guns. The shootings include incidents of murder, suicide, and police action.
There is archival footage and still photographs of political killings, assassinations, and killings during revolutions. This sequence also shows bombed out buildings and the second plane hitting the World Trade Center. There is a significant amount of blood in this footage, some of it in color.
There is war footage from Kosovo.
There are 911 tapes and security video from Columbine. The sound of shooting can be heard on the 911 tapes.
There is footage of a man killing himself via shotgun in his mouth.
There are several sequences of cartoon violence.
There is a sequence that mixes movie clips with archive footage of actual killings.
There is another 911 call, this time from an elementary school shooting.
profanity
Very few profane or vulgar words. Maybe as many as 20 overall. The F-word is used 5 times, once with its literal meaning. The S-word is used 3 times. The word "fag" is used in order to condemn its use.
alcohol
One interview subject is smoking.
frightening
Some people may consider the shooting clips to be frightening.
