In a rare display of humanity, New Zealand's former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern emerges from this documentary portrait as a relatable and vulnerable individual rather than just a polished politician. Unlike her predecessors, who have often relied on defense mechanisms to shield themselves from the pressures of office, Ardern appears refreshingly unarmored, showcasing an endearing mix of likability, empathy, and fragility.
The film offers an intimate look at Ardern's life with partner Clarke Gayford as she navigated her rise to power within the New Zealand Labour party in 2017. Despite becoming the world's youngest female elected leader, Ardern remained remarkably down-to-earth and avoided developing the defensive armor typically associated with professional politicians. Her responses to criticism and adversity are marked by a visible flash of temper, revealing a subtle vulnerability that belies her polished public image.
The documentary highlights Ardern's remarkable handling of high-profile crises, including the Christchurch mosque shootings, where she showed exceptional sincerity and compassion. She demonstrated shrewd political acumen in navigating the aftermath, banning assault rifles to address the community's concerns. Her response earned widespread admiration from around the world, cementing her reputation as a leader who genuinely cared about her people.
However, Ardern's fortunes took a turn when COVID-19 arrived, testing her mettle as a leader. Initially, New Zealand seemed lucky to have avoided the worst of the pandemic, but the emergence of a new wave led to a decline in poll numbers and an influx of far-right protesters outside parliament. The film reveals how these protesters resorted to bullying Ardern, highlighting the increasingly hostile environment that women in politics face today.
Ardern's story serves as a poignant reminder that there is no longer enough space for leaders like her in modern politics. Her combination of empathy, compassion, and effective governance made her a beloved figure, but she also became a target for vitriol and sexism. As the documentary concludes, it leaves viewers with an uncomfortable sense of the challenges Ardern faced and the sacrifices she made to serve her country – a powerful testament to the enduring power of human connection in leadership.
The film offers an intimate look at Ardern's life with partner Clarke Gayford as she navigated her rise to power within the New Zealand Labour party in 2017. Despite becoming the world's youngest female elected leader, Ardern remained remarkably down-to-earth and avoided developing the defensive armor typically associated with professional politicians. Her responses to criticism and adversity are marked by a visible flash of temper, revealing a subtle vulnerability that belies her polished public image.
The documentary highlights Ardern's remarkable handling of high-profile crises, including the Christchurch mosque shootings, where she showed exceptional sincerity and compassion. She demonstrated shrewd political acumen in navigating the aftermath, banning assault rifles to address the community's concerns. Her response earned widespread admiration from around the world, cementing her reputation as a leader who genuinely cared about her people.
However, Ardern's fortunes took a turn when COVID-19 arrived, testing her mettle as a leader. Initially, New Zealand seemed lucky to have avoided the worst of the pandemic, but the emergence of a new wave led to a decline in poll numbers and an influx of far-right protesters outside parliament. The film reveals how these protesters resorted to bullying Ardern, highlighting the increasingly hostile environment that women in politics face today.
Ardern's story serves as a poignant reminder that there is no longer enough space for leaders like her in modern politics. Her combination of empathy, compassion, and effective governance made her a beloved figure, but she also became a target for vitriol and sexism. As the documentary concludes, it leaves viewers with an uncomfortable sense of the challenges Ardern faced and the sacrifices she made to serve her country – a powerful testament to the enduring power of human connection in leadership.
. But, I gotta ask, what's with the sudden change in fortunes? How did COVID-19 affect her poll numbers so drastically? Wasn't New Zealand one of the first countries to implement strict lockdowns and all that jazz? And, I'm curious about those protests outside parliament - were they really just random far-right protesters or was there more to it? Some sources said there was a lot of coordination between some groups... 
and I gotta say I'm really impressed by how relatable she comes across. You know, I mean we've all had moments where we're like totally frazzled and trying to keep it together, but politicians are supposed to be all cool and collected right? 
So it's nice to see someone who doesn't play the game of being all perfect and scripted. Ardern seems genuinely passionate about making a difference and that's something we can all get behind.
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. And yeah, her story does serve as a reminder that we need more leaders like that - people who genuinely care about the people they're supposed to be serving. 
It's not all glamour and power, being in politics is tough, especially when you're a woman... but Ardern just made it look so beautiful 
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, thanks for sharing! 
I think what really stands out about Jacinda Ardern is how relatable she actually is 
, you know? It's super refreshing to see someone in power who isn't trying to be perfect all the time 
. And omg, that Christchurch mosque shootings scene was so emotional 
... I mean, she really showed us what it means to be a compassionate leader 
. But at the same time, it's crazy how she got bullied and sexism came out of nowhere 
. Like, shouldn't we expect more from our leaders?! 
just a relatable, down-to-earth person who genuinely cares about people. I mean, have you seen how she handled those crises in NZ? amazing 
from banning assault rifles to being all empathetic and sincere during the mosque shootings... it's like we're seeing a true leader for once 
but still, I think her story is so inspiring. she showed us that leadership isn't just about making decisions, it's about being human too 
we need more leaders like Jacinda who can connect with people and make a difference.
but I think that's what makes her story even more powerful. it's not just about her leadership skills, but about the obstacles she overcame to get there 
And can we talk about how she handled the COVID crisis? 
Like, we need more leaders who care so much about their people, not just their own power struggles 
. But what really gets me is how hard it must have been for her to deal with all that hate online 
. Anyways, I think this doc does a great job of showing us the real Jacinda Ardern, and it's definitely making me appreciate her more 
. I mean, women in politics are already dealing with so much stress, they don't need that kinda negativity 
. It's like, we need more leaders who genuinely care about their people, you feel? 
. anywayz, she's an inspiration to us all - proof that leaders can be human and still make a difference 
It's not easy keeping everyone safe, especially when it comes to something as unpredictable as a global health crisis.
. I love how she comes across as super relatable, you know? Like, we've all had those days where we're feeling really vulnerable and just want to hide under a blanket 
. And the way she handles crisis situations is just amazing - so calm and collected, even in the face of chaos 
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. the way she handled those tough times, especially with COVID-19, was so admirable 
. She comes off as so relatable and human (yes, that's a weird combo for a politician 
) – you can almost see her getting annoyed with herself when she's got to deal with all the crap in politics 
!
She's not just about being strong leader, she's also got emotions 
Women in politics are always under pressure 