Former president of the United States and First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama’s own production company have teamed up with Netflix to work on a new documentary which details the iconic first black First Lady of the United States’s life. Entitled “Becoming,” the documentary follows Michelle Obama as she embarks on a 34-city tour to promote her bestselling memoir of the same name.
The highly anticipated documentary, which launched on May 6th on the streaming platform, is a unique insight into the lives of the iconic former president and his wife.
Along with the announcement of the forthcoming documentary, Michelle shared a letter in which she explains that her book tour wasn’t just an ordinary one, as she states, “In groups large and small, young and old, unique and united, we came together and shared stories, filling those spaces with our joys, worries, and dreams.”
Directed by Nadia Hallgren, “Becoming” also details the stories of the “amazing people” Michelle met following the release of her book. Taking to social media to talk about the release of the documentary on Netflix, she captioned, “I’m excited to share that on May 6, Netflix will release BECOMING, a documentary directed by Nadia Hallgren that shares the stories of the amazing people I met after the release of my memoir. During this difficult time, I hope you’ll find some inspiration and joy in this film.”
The director, Hallgren, is also a cinematographer and filmmaker from the Bronx who is behind the documentary, “After Maria,” which looked at the after effects of Hurricane Maria on the people of Puerto Rico.
Michelle Obama also spoke about Nadia Hallgren’s work in a statement, lauding her for her character and talent, “It’s hard these days to feel grounded or hopeful, but I hope that like me, you’ll find joy and a bit of respite in what Nadia has made. Because she’s a rare talent, someone whose intelligence and compassion for others comes through in every frame she shoots. Most importantly, she understands the meaning of community, the power of community, and her work is magically able to depict it.”
“Becoming” is the most recent release from Barack and Michelle’s production company, Higher Ground, since they signed a deal with Netflix in 2018. The production house has also recently produced the Academy Award nominated documentary “American Factory,” with more projects underway, including a new drama series called “Bloom,” which is set in the world of fashion in New York after WW2. Are you watching?
