Prime Minister

For me this was the perfect movie. From 1971 to 1978 I lived in Wellington, half a mile from Parliament Building (in one direction), and half a mile from Premier House (in another direction) where Jacinda Ardern and Clark took up residence in 2017. When I arrived on those shores there had not yet been a New Zealand feature-length move. How things have changed -- I gazed in wonder at my old Thorndon neighborhood, fifty years older now. As I left the theater I thought that this must be the best of documentaries. Jacinda could be nominated for an Oscar, but that might not be right -- she wasn't acting, she was just being her incredible self.

I throughly enjoyed this moving film. In it, is an intimate look into the complexties and challenges of leading a country, while also staying true to yourself and valuing connection, family and doing the right thing.

I've long admired Jacinda Ardean's leadership approach, putting people first, consulting with experts and not being afraid to make the tough decisions. Decisions that may not be the most popular, but with all the information at her fingertips, she is equipped with the knowledge to lead. Through it all, she has a thriving family and enviable strong, loving and caring relationship with her husband.

Highly recommend!

I didn't expect to be so emotional watching this, but it hit me harder than I anticipated. The film captures more than just Jacinda Ardern's time in office - it's a reminder of a leadership style rooted in empathy, clarity, and courage. Watching it made me nostalgic for a country that, in many ways, doesn't feel the same anymore.

It's rare to see a political figure portrayed with such honesty and vulnerability, and it only reinforced what I already felt: the world needs more Jacindas. If more leaders approached their role with the compassion and moral backbone that she did, the world would be a profoundly different place.

I'm not surprised to see a few low-star ratings from people who likely didn't watch it, or who disagree with her politics but can't articulate why - and tellingly, many of those reviews don't contain a single word of critique. That says it all.

This documentary is a moving, thoughtful portrait of a once-in-a-generation leader. I loved it.

This is quite possibly the worst documentary I've ever seen. Don't waste your time. It plays more like a self-congratulatory PR piece than an honest account. Rather than offering a balanced view, it's just Jacinda Ardern telling the world how kind, caring, and empathetic she supposedly was - a narrative many New Zealanders know doesn't reflect reality. There's no serious scrutiny, no opposing voices, and no acknowledgment of the damage done during her time in office. As a New Zealander myself, I found the whole thing deeply offensive - a tone-deaf attempt to rewrite history. Truly embarrassing stuff.

Watched at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

I may not be familiar with Jacinda Ardern but this documentary is a good examination of Ardern's role and views as a former Prime Minister, and the struggles she encountered and went through in the past. Captured with good footage, direction, and approach, the documentary features a good sense of realism and humane atmospheres. Demonstrating both the political aspect and personal aspects Ardern is facing.

The filmmakers are able to humanize Ardern on an emotional level. Being able to understand her more thoroughly and understand why she believed things this way and that way. Ardern might not been a perfect person but her passion and her ambitious views demonstrates how difficult and challenging as a Prime Minister can be.