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  • Lacrystal Parker

Documentary Review of "Becoming




Even with its flaws, Becoming is a compelling documentary, offering a carefully revealing look at a smart, ambitious ferociously practical woman trying to understand how her historic time in the White House changed herself, her family and the nation.


Michelle told her story with charm, grit, adventurism, as all of us already know Michelle Obama has a captivating screen presence, whether it's seeing her being interviewed on her book tour, seen in quiet moments, or anything in between.


Michelle's warmness, and down-to-Earth persona is certainly felt throughout the film. In every city on the book tour she lighted up the screen bringing people together from all races, ages and walks of life.


Directed by award winning civil film and cinematographer Nadia Hallgren who has had an amazing 15-year career as a cinematographer. Some of Hallgren’s films subjects have brought light to the foster care system, LGBTQ rights in the black community, she is not a stranger to working with the Obama's.


Connecting with people and wanting to hear and embrace their stories

In the documentary we got a close up to see how Michelle Obama has the gift for connecting with people, whether one-on-one at a book signing, in small groups of young women or elderly churchgoers or thousands of dazzled fans at sold-out arenas.

Watching a young black girl, giddy as she imitates the former First Lady's Walk down a hall,

we get the sense that the mere experience of being in the same space as Obama will change someone's life forever.


The frustration of living in the white house with 8 years of scrutiny

She sometimes wondered was all that her and her husband were sacrificing enduring was worth it, living in the White House for eight years of such structure and scrutiny brought frustration and confusion when she had to deal with the fact that the American people that her and her husband were fighting for seemed unmotivated to vote which made it very hard to create the change that they were trying to make.


Fashion

In the eight year term Barack Obama took office as president of the United States, First Lady Michelle Obama, has embraced fashion as a powerful form of communication, helping to cultivate an image of American style that has been groundbreaking, inclusive, and thoroughly modern.


Michelle also shared the importance of making a fashion statement while being America's First Lady. I begin to ponder as I watched the documentary, As a young girl from the "South Side of Chicago" did she ever imagine that one day she would be a Fashion Icon?

 

As Michelle Obama's wardrobe adviser, Meredith Koop has been a behind-the-scenes fashion force. Since 2009, Meredith Koop has served as the first lady's fashion and wardrobe adviser. The 35-year-old Missouri native started her career as a sales associate at the Chicago boutique Ikram. It was Koop's connection to the store's owner, Ikram Goldman, that afforded her an introduction to the then senator's wife and Ikram client, Mrs. Obama. After the 2008 election, as the new first family was preparing to move into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Koop was tapped to help with the transition. Since then she has worked with Mrs. Obama on the first lady's wardrobe strategy.


 Mrs. Obama has become her generation's most impactful fashion muse. Her style

  was always unforgettable and a topic of discussion in her term!

Her Strong Family foundation

Michelle Obama pays homage to her mother and father and being raised with strong family values. She expressed in the film her father's hopes, dreams and aspirations.

Michelle's father worked in a water filtration plant for the city of Chicago, teaching a young Michelle about hard work and perseverance. He lived with multiple sclerosis. and died in 1991.


First Lady Michelle Obama impact will be felt for generations to come.


Available today on Netflix. 



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