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Becoming

Becoming

2020

PG

Director

Nadia Hallgren

Runtime

89 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Join former first lady Michelle Obama in an intimate documentary looking at her life, hopes and connection with others.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

7.1/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film maintains a neutral stance regarding queer identities. It does not center LGBTQ+ narratives or engage with same-sex dynamics, focusing instead on race and gender.

Gender Representation

Excellent

Michelle Obama is portrayed as a primary driver of her own story rather than a secondary figure. The film dismantles tropes of the submissive spouse by highlighting her intellectual agency.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

The documentary disrupts homogeneous political portrayals by centering the journey of a Black woman. It offers a nuanced exploration of racial identity and systemic pressures.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The narrative reflects on the personal toll of navigating Western institutions. It explores how identity is shaped by the constant negotiation of one's authentic self against systemic forces.

Disability Representation

Fair

There are no prominent depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities. The focus remains on the psychological and social pressures of public life.

Strengths

  • Provides a significant disruption of historically homogeneous political portrayals.
  • Dismantles traditional gender hierarchies by emphasizing intellectual agency.
  • Offers a nuanced exploration of racial identity and systemic pressures.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit engagement with LGBTQ+ narratives or queer theory.
  • Does not include prominent depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

AI Analysis

Becoming succeeds by centering a Black woman's lived experience within the traditionally Anglo-centric landscape of American political leadership. It effectively uses Michelle Obama's personal history to critique broader systemic structures and institutional norms. The film excels in its subversion of gender hierarchies, presenting the subject as an intellectually independent leader rather than a political accessory. This provides a powerful counter-narrative to the standard archetype of the First Lady. However, the documentary's scope is narrow regarding other marginalized identities. It lacks explicit engagement with LGBTQ+ themes or disability-centric narratives, focusing almost exclusively on the intersections of race, gender, and institutional power.

How are these scores produced? →

Featured in

  • Best Gender Representation of the 2020s
  • Best Racial & Ethnic Representation of the 2020s
  • Best Religious & Cultural Representation in Film

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