Prime Minster
(USA, 102 min.)
Dir. Michelle Walshe & Lindsay Utz
Programme: World Cinema Documentary Competition (World premiere)
Upon announcing her nomination as leader of New Zealand’s Labour Party, Jacinda Ardern admitted that she’s just accepted the worst job in politics. If fronting a floundering party into an election is unenviable task, that’s nothing compared to steering a nation during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister offers an intimate glimpse at Ardern’s historic tenure as the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Featuring a great deal of footage shot by Arden’s partner and now husband Clarke Gayford, the cameras go alongside the world leader from her announcement, through to her upset win and extraordinarily progressive run as Prime Minister. She also gives birth while in office and performs double duty as world leader and mum. The film might be slight, but Ardern’s story undeniably provides balm in an era of brutally toxic politics.
Directors Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Ute don’t go for straight-up hagiography in Prime Minister, but the generally flattering look at Ardern’s run is, perhaps, expected. Documentaries with access levels such as this one often find themselves in a trade-off between intimacy and perspective. For progressives, though, it’s hard to fault the lack of tough questions. Ardern’s politics and calm head under pressure should serve as a role model for future leaders. As a film, though, Prime Minister mostly succeeds more as historical record.
It’s an impressive record, though, as Arden assumes office in 2017 at a mere 37 years old. Within months, her infant daughter Neve becomes New Zealand’s youngest intern. Arden goes back to work a mere two weeks after delivering. That decision illustrates the vitriol she had to deal with. Although many people admire their Prime Minister for defying sexist arguments that women can’t do “tough jobs” while raising a baby, other people criticise her, saying she’s neglecting her child, her duties of public office, or both by multitasking.
Ardern’s indefatigable optimism carries her forward though. Juggling briefs, votes, and breastfeeding, she leads the country through some laudable policy work. Meanwhile, Neve grows up attentive, polite, and disciplined. The same can’t be said for the petulant child who overshadows much of Ardern’s first term: Donald Trump. The American idiot foists a Herculean task onto Arden’s shoulders. However, good diplomacy prevails even when Stephen Colbert asks her to clarify whether everyone at the United Nations was laughing with or at the Donald when he proclaimed his administration the most successful in American history. Her quick wit frequently comes in hand.
Prime Minister observes as Arden deals with major back-to-back crises. The film devotes a great deal of time to Arden’s handling of the terrorist attack in a Christchurch mosque. Her empathetic yet diplomatic response to the tragedy offers a pointed contrast to Trump. She dons a headscarf and speaks to families of victims, expressing condolences but delivering unwanted news that bodies of loved ones will have delayed release while investigators examine the case. She then does a very un-American thing by offering more than “thoughts and prayers.” Ardern successfully champions an aggressive gun control policy to prevent such senseless attacks.
The bulk of the film inevitably observes the Prime Minister’s response to COVID-19. Walshe and Ute give an insider’s view of the swift action that let Kiwis enjoy a relatively normal 2020 by shutting the borders and keeping the virus out. The film rightly shows how other leaders and voices worldwide praised Arden’s handling of the situation, while the intimate glimpse shares how her keeness to learn about the virus guided her decisions. Her approach favours science, fact, and reason. Again, good inspiration for future leaders.
The unflappable smile starts to sag, though, as the far more sinister virus infecting the world—right-wing vitriol—spreads to New Zealand. Anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers take aim at Ardern. They threaten her, along with her family. Encampments form by parliament. The doc observes how the amplified hate of a vocal few makes New Zealand an echo of Trump’s America, while movements like the Freedom Convoy in Canada have their counterparts Down Under. It’s enough to break anyone.
Prime Minister quickly gets through Ardern’s resignation in 2023, admitting that the last few years deflated whatever fight she had. That’s a fair point, but there’s nobody there to really push her or ask for more. Gayford offers a sympathetic response. That’s a perfectly legitimate action by a partner, but there are moments where Prime Minster would benefit from an objective hand.
The most introspective elements of Prime Minister, however, don’t come in the intimate cinéma vérité glimpses. Rather, audio interviews recorded throughout Ardern’s time in office as part of New Zealand’s oral history offer the deepest reflection. It’s an intriguing layer to the film, as politicians do behave quite different when the cameras aren’t rolling. Ardern’s openness with the unseen interviewer proves therapeutic, but it’s also disappointing that this insight seem lacking elsewhere in the film.
The film ultimately uses recent history to provide an aspirational guide for future leaders. Ardern cites explorer Ernest Shackleton as a personal hero, particularly for his adage, “Optimism is true moral courage.” As Trump’s reign of terror returns and more countries, including Canada, swing rightward and away from optimism, one wishes that more leaders shared Ardern’s courage to be kind. It’s a simple if refreshing call to action for a documentary: to encourage audiences to be less awful to others in daily life.
