Have you seen Michael Moore’s latest film, “Where to Invade Next”? It’s a comedy, but one has to “laugh with one eye crying.” I mean, how does the film’s promo “Hilarious!” square with the presentation of so many things missing in our society? From paid vacations to family and maternity leave; free college education; prison systems based on respect for the individual and reintegration into society; not to mention school lunches that look like fancy restaurant fare?

But then who would pay attention if this film were a didactic hit ’em over the head presentation of privatization, corporate control, de-democratization and a culture valuing competition over caring? Instead, Moore’s revelations amaze, and make us laugh.

Many of us know that other societies do have things to offer. That is the premise of Moore’s latest work. Carrying a large American flag, he sets forth to see what we can claim from other countries, given that America’s wars since “the big one,” World War II, have been so unsuccessful.

His “invasions” show how we have come up short. And yet, it turns out that many of the good ideas in countries he visits actually originated here. An example is in Iceland, where bankers responsible for the country’s 2008 financial meltdown were put on trial, convicted and jailed — with the help of an American prosecutor who won convictions after the Savings and Loan crisis of the 1980s-’90s. Interestingly, the major bank that did not fail in Iceland was run by women.

Visiting Slovenia, Moore meets several American students attending university for free. The reality they describe, of a society seeing education as a key public good, with the related absence of crippling student debt, is the case in many countries. But this wonderful policy is also one that must be defended. Moore shows student demonstrations in countries where tuition for higher education was proposed. The students won, tuition was defeated, but it’s clear that even where democratic access to education is valued, vigilance is required.

So why did the food in French elementary schools look like it belonged in a four-star restaurant? It turns out that all public schools have healthy lunches, with menus reviewed by local elected officials and school staff. Far from a feeding frenzy, lunchtime is a one hour ‘‘class” where students sit at tables family-style, eat from real plates, drink from real glasses and enjoy a variety of foods.

The food is good in French public schools, in part because everyone attends, a fact also related to Finland’s top-rated schools. Because richer students are not separated in private schools, there are adequate funds and attention for good schools and children from different social backgrounds learn and play together. They have time for that, too, as what Moore decides to “steal” from Finland are some astounding facts behind their students’ academic achievement: No homework! No standardized tests! Kids should have time to be young, discover things for themselves — and play.

Moore also looked at crime and punishment. In Portugal, all drug use is decriminalized. Use has gone down, and is treated as a medical issue. In Norway, the prison system developed personal responsibility and rehabilitation. The recidivism rate is a fraction of ours. Interviews with inmates living in “cells” like dorm rooms, with their own keys, are contrasted with footage of U.S. prison brutality against black inmates.

Another theme was about coming to terms with the history of one’s country. The example was Germany, where classroom discussions and history lessons do not shy away from the country’s violent, fascist past. This was contrasted to official American inability to confront head-on our nation’s history of genocide and slavery.

Two aspects of the film were especially powerful for me. The first, a concise presentation of devastating racial policies in America.

Paraphrasing roughly: During the 1960s, our country saw a major movement and awakening for African-American rights, long denied. This was met with harsh violence. Black leaders were assassinated, black communities became awash in drugs. Control of the population was then achieved through a war on drugs, with declarations from Nelson Rockefeller to Richard Nixon to William Clinton. Black men were locked up, shattering lives, families, entire communities. Their rights as citizens denied, a large percentage of the electorate was robbed of their vote. A related result was that without these votes, formerly blue states turned red.

The second was Moore’s conclusion that societies with equality, justice and peace have strong political and social involvement of women.

Believe it or not, the film is a indeed a comedy, quite an achievement for its sole author, director and producer. Now wouldn’t it be hilarious if “Where to Invade Next?” could help in the consciousness changing fundamental for new hope and movement in this country?

Anna Gyorgy lives in Wendell.