Netflix's "Becoming" Is an Imperfect yet Inspirational Portrait of the Hero We Need Right Now

Plot Synopsis courtesy of IMDb.com: “Join former first lady Michelle Obama in an intimate documentary looking at her life, hopes and connection with others during her 2019 book tour for 'Becoming.'“

Focusing on Michelle Obama during her promotional tour for her memoir of the same name, Becoming is a documentary that tells the story of Obama before, during, and after her time as first lady. The documentary is composed primarily of interviews and speeches given by Obama herself, as well as occasional archive footage and interviews with Obama’s family and close associates. While it doesn’t present anything earth-shattering or life-changing, Becoming is propelled by Obama’s charisma and gives audiences a unique view into the room where it happened.

In addition to the usual speaking engagements and book signings that constitute any bestselling book tour, Obama engaged in various community events across the United States with high school students. The film captures her engaging with students to discuss issues of race and socioeconomic status as she advises them through her own experiences. The admiration evident on the sometimes tearful faces is instantly contagious and it is impossible to stand unmoved as Obama validates the issues and concerns expressed to her.

Just as captivating are the “private” scenes recorded in the film — especially those between Obama and her mother, Phoebe Robinson, her brother, Craig Robinson (not the Craig Robinson you know as Darryl Philbin from The Office), and her husband, Barack. Although what is shown is clearly meant for the camera, these intimate moments have a humanizing effect on those larger-than-life personas.

Michelle Obama in Becoming

Becoming paints Obama as a somewhat reluctant political figure initially and the film itself tries to follow in those footsteps. While some will struggle to view anything without a political lens, Becoming is anything but partisan. The film touches on a handful of social causes — such as marriage equality, police violence, and female empowerment — but refrains from engaging in the divisive politics so common today. In fact, the central message of the film is the diverse outreach and mentorship Obama is continuously trying to foster.

Becoming seems to take on the same structure that similar documentaries produced by their subjects have — and that is a memoir in the form of a film. Director Nadia Hallgren molds the film into something that elicits constant emotion and inspiration, yet lacks a solid narrative to hold it together. Time, space, and proximity are all ambiguous concepts as we are presented with a series of vignettes and flashbacks. It is as if the filmmakers couldn’t decide whether to tell the story of Obama’s life post-presidency or retell anecdotes of her experiences in the White House, and the result is a somewhat fractured amalgamation of the two.

In what is probably the most politically-minded decision made by the filmmakers (which includes Obama as a producer), Becoming visibly shies away from anything that could come close to being controversial. As humanizing as the film can be at times, it is still portraying “the most popular person in the world,” and it doesn’t do much in the way of examining that. At its most vulnerable, Becoming is akin to a 90-minute response to the age-old job-interview question, “What is your greatest weakness?” to which the reply is — and always will be — “I care too much,” or “I work too hard.”

Although this filtered approach probably makes the film a lesser version of what it could have been, it might be just the thing that society is longing for right now. This is not the time for the postmodern reexamination of our heroes’ flaws, à la Logan or Man of Steel, and we can certainly do without another diatribe about how damaging fame and success can be for those caught unprepared. Rather, I am inclined to prescribe a dose of optimism, hope, empathy, and compassion. Thankfully, Michelle Obama is exactly the type of hero we need right now.

Reel Rating: 7/10

Becoming was released on Netflix on May 6, 2020

Becoming is rated PG.

Directed by: Nadia Hallgren (She’s the Ticket)