DIRECTORS
Lindsay Utz and Michelle Walshe

I’m not going to conceal the fact it feels practically impossible to critique this documentary without allowing my personal positive bias of its subject, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, to influence my overall view of the film.

When considering the attributes and motivations of people who assume world leader positions, I hold Jacinda in highest regard. Put simply, there are almost 200 leaders across our globe. I can’t help but think how different things might be if more of them governed with the intent she did during her reign.

Kindness, empathy and togetherness. If I had 3 words to describe Jacinda’s brand, these are the ones that stand out above all others. I implore anyone to provide a more indisputable example of these characteristics being applied in unison by a world leader than on March 15, 2019, in response to the Christchurch Mosque tragedy. ‘They are us’, said Jacinda Ardern to her fellow Kiwi citizens. Her genuine and healing response also led to swift action, with New Zealand changing its gun laws in just 26 days. It would make any U.S citizen who wishes to see similar actions taken in their country throw their hands in the air at the absence of resistance and blockers in changing such laws and by the ease and timeliness of implementation.

As is the case for any and all global leaders, Jacinda Ardern has her critics and haters. This was most evident when imposing ongoing lockdowns during the covid-19 outbreak throughout 2022. The insight Prime Minister provides audiences in these unpredictable and turbulent times is invaluable and encourages thoughtful reflection over a time I’m sure many of us prefer to forget. It also reminds us that irrespective of what decisions are or are not made by our leaders, there is no such thing as a right call for all. There are also humans among us who would prefer their world would not be governed the way it is, or at all. Don’t they come out in force at such times!? Frankly, I do not care to spare another word for anarchists.

This documentary importantly takes us back to Jacinda’s rise to power and chronicles her entire tenure as PM, again with pure insight. Her journey to becoming New Zealand’s 40th Prime Minister at just 37 years of age after becoming the Labour Party leader as voted by her peers just 7 weeks before the 2017 election following the resignation of her former leader is monumental. Jacinda is so refreshingly honest over this entire chapter of her life. Almost immediately into her tenure, Jacinda governed while pregnant and was the 1st world leader to bring her baby to the United Nations, whilst having to constantly face and fend off questions at home surrounding her capability to simultaneously lead NZ and be a new Mum. The card Jacinda was dealt with during her first term alone; the aforementioned Christchurch terrorist attack, The Whakaari / White Island Volcano disaster later that same year, and the first covid-19 outbreak just months after that, is the epitome of baptism by fire. How Jacinda chooses to lead in such devastating times and the toll these take on her are both palpable. 

Finally, what truly elevates Prime Minister from simply being an insightful and well-made documentary about a subject I admire to an excellent exposition of an exceptional human are the messages they (the film and Jacinda) leave with us. The reinforcement of the power of our capabilities as people, even if we don’t yet know what exactly they are, and especially when they are most needed. I am also grateful for the timely reminder given that there is still so much humanity in our world that often resembles a dumpster fire. This occurred to me during recent travels abroad, where I saw so much natural and human (inner) beauty. Our various news outlets just do not transmit this as frequently as they could and we must constantly observe our surroundings to know it is there too, every day.

Prime Minister is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from November 6th, 2025.

Moviedoc thanks Rialto Distribution and Annette Smith: Ned & Co for providing a screener link to watch and review this film. 

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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