Overview
- Directed by Lindsay Utz and Michelle Walshe, the film assembles intimate home videos and behind-the-scenes material to chart Ardern’s rise and years in office.
- Coverage of the Christchurch attacks, the Whakaari/White Island eruption and the COVID‑19 pandemic anchors the narrative around crisis leadership.
- Critics commend the emotional immediacy yet say the film largely sidesteps the political and economic constraints that limited her policy ambitions.
- Reviews highlight the gendered hostility Ardern faced and her presentation as vulnerable, scrutable and likable rather than a hardened career politician.
- The release is gaining awards attention, with a CNN premiere and streaming on HBO Max, a UK theatrical opening on Friday, and a London premiere where Ardern urged current leaders to value kindness and empathy.