An Intimate Look Inside the Last Days of Barack Obama's Presidency

[DonViejo]

The Final Year shows his trademark hopefulness remained in-tact through his final moments as president.


BY ELENA HILTON
JAN 19, 2018

When Donald Trump gave his inaugural address just one year ago, he laid out his foreign policy agenda quite simply: "From this moment on, it’s going to be America First." It was a jarring, yet completely predictable, departure from Barack Obama's collaborative approach to foreign affairs. As President Trump continues to sink America's reputation internationally, a new documentary called The Final Year explores Obama's eighth year in the White House as he focused on foreign policy initiatives.

The film follows key players on President Obama’s foreign policy team as they run against the clock to try and create a lasting legacy. Director Greg Barker was given extensive access over the course of 15 months to the White House and State Department through Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, Secretary of State John Kerry, and President Obama himself.

It’s not a perfect documentary, seeing as the subject matter is far too dense to properly delve into the complex issues in the time allotted. But for The West Wing addicts and nerdy former Model U.N. kids (myself included), it offers a compelling and accessible look at what goes on behind the scenes of the headline-making policies. Hell, it might even make you sound a little smarter next time the dreaded political conversation comes up.

The large, bumbling elephant in the room throughout the film is, of course, Donald Trump’s impending presidency. If you were a supporter of Barack Obama, it’s disheartening to relive that last year knowing that the strides he made on foreign policy within his last year will be largely overturned. We’re now the only country to not be a part of the Paris Climate Accords, the very treaty we championed forward. The once-improved relations between the U.S. and Cuba are once again contentious. We’re suddenly rather chummy with Russia and Putin. And as for the Iran nuclear deal, Trump has threatened to withdraw if changes aren't made.

more
http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a15045697/the-final-year-documentary-review/?src=nl&mag=esq&list=nl_enl_news&date=011918

[underpants]

1. Man that's going to be painful and a joy to watch

[Upthevibe]

2. I don't think I can watch it....too painful...

What's happened to us.....

[BeyondGeography]

3. Obama drove me a little nuts with his optimism

re. Americans in the here and now, but I think he’s right about people globally wanting a more just and empathetic world. There just aren’t enough of them here right now. Thanks for the clip.