Becoming

Didn't like it at all. This documentary feels like we are following a superstar and nothing less. It's all hyped up and it felt like I was watching a promotion. I expected something different and more classy.

Movie night with Iris.

America's former first hugging lady gets glossy overview, from her own production company (shock). That said interesting topics are touched upon - marriage counselling, postnatal depression, her mum's favouring her brother? But it's fleeting and mostly light-hearted.

So whilst it may not be insightful, it has buckets of emotional outpouring. You cannot not be moved when an elderly lady talks about the experience of seeing Obama's inauguration: "I never thought I would see that. For that I thank you."

I love Michelle. But this movies gives nothing new. It is just cuts form interview and couple of minutes of original interview. If you know at least something about Obamas, there is nothing new in this movie ... unfortunately.

I'm a huge fan of Michelle Obama and I deeply appreciated the "slow" (perhaps even "serene"?) pace of the film, which revealed an even more authentic image of the former First Lady. It could seem like a bunch of tour snippets seen together and maybe it is, but I didn't hate it. The film complements and supplements her bestseller very well, and I do think some background knowledge on Mrs Obama could help viewers connect more with the movie and the stories but personally my eyes were brimming with tears the whole way through. If I had anything else to say, I would probably have enjoyed more of those segments that gave a little glimpse into the lives of the young readers/followers of Michelle Obama.

As a foreigner watching on in 2008, I was stunned that America had done this thing. Like many, I hadn't thought it would ever happen, or at least not for many more years. I was also extremely proud of the nation for the choice they made (unlike 8 years later). But you know one thought I had almost right away? "Oh God, I hope he doesn't get assassinated." Because I'm not naive about racism and extremism in America.

Watching this documentary gave me more insight into the person Michelle was before becoming First Lady. She came from such a great family so it's easy to see why she aimed so high with confidence. I could also see a little hint of how difficult it must have been, not just after the election but in the lead up to it with all the hatred directed towards her in the media. You could see on her face that she was feeling the pressure, and justifiably anger too, even while she stayed quiet, knowing that speaking her mind was detrimental to the campaign (for no good reason either).

I've always known that she was relieved to be leaving the White House, but this documentary gave me a better understanding of why that was. The Obama administration wasn't perfect, as I learned from watching Michael Moore's documentary about these years, including the story of Obama's visit to Flint, Michigan. I also knew that he was more of a deadly president to some Middle Eastern countries than even his predecessor, which I can't ever condone. Even so, watching this documentary made me pine for a time when the entire world didn't feel under threat because of the identity of the US leader.