by John Noonan
Worth: $16.00
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Intro:
... comforting, bittersweet and sad ...
In the current political climate, where we have world leaders selling branded bibles, bulldozing history to set up ballrooms and spitting the dummy on social media, it’s easy to forget that at one time they were voted in to, you know, lead their country through thick and thin. And perhaps importantly, with a dash of humanity.
Along comes Prime Minister, from co-directors Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz, which follows Jacinda Ardern’s tenure as New Zealand/Aotearoa Prime Minister.
The documentary opens with the former PM, now living in Boston Massachusetts, walking her daughter to the school bus before continuing her fellowship at Harvard University. We’re given a sneaky peak at one of her lectures as she reminds her students that politics has become hyper-partisan to the point that no one is listening to each other. “We have to rehumanise one another again,” she pleads.
This concerted effort to be humanistic runs deep through the film as, in 2017, we watch Ardern being thrust into the position of Labour leader, when the woefully unpopular Andrew Little resigned just before an election. Despite a rushed campaign, Ardern managed to be elected the world’s youngest female head of government, noting later that she’s the 40th prime minister and she’s not even hit 40.
This youthful blood in government seems to be what the country needs. Even when public voices decry her as selfish for – checks notes – being pregnant, Ardern tackles her critics with the force of ScoMo taking down a child in soccer. If the documentary was just her rise to power, it would be a simple little crowd pleaser. However, Ardern’s tenure was far removed from smooth sailing.
One of her first big challenges was the horrific Christchurch Mosque shootings, which saw 51 people murdered. As present day Ardern talks over footage of her speaking with the families and community affected, it’s clear that it still plays on her mind. “People shouldn’t have to thank you for a humane response,” she reflects. “That should be your expectation.”
This tragic event would then be followed by the Whakaari Island eruption and of course, COVID. Throughout it all, Ardern is shown to be keeping her head up and being laser-focused on protecting the country. Sure, this isn’t a warts and all film – despite the candid clips of footage filmed by her partner Clarke Gayford at home. The closest we see Ardern do anything even slightly controversial is her sighing audibly when a village of antivaxxers camped out on parliament grounds begin another round of John Farnham’s ‘You’re the Voice’. To be fair, hearing that banger sung by people calling you ‘Jabcinda’ is enough to make anyone rest their head on the desk in exasperation.
There’s something so comforting, bittersweet and sad watching a Head of Government lead her part of the world without finger pointing, self-preening and being held up by sycophants. It’s a reminder that Government can be used for good instead of self-gain, without having to step on the lives of others.
