'It’s just like, damn, those eight years weren’t for nothing': Michelle Obama's daughters share their admiration for their mom in new Netflix film - as Malia admits she cried while watching the former first lady's book tour
Michelle Obama's daughters Malia and Sasha open up about their admiration for their mom in Netflix's upcoming documentary 'Becoming,' which chronicles the former first lady's 34-city tour for her best-selling memoir of the same name.
The college students' brief cameo in the film marks their highly-anticipated first public interview. The footage of Malia, 21, and Sasha, 18, was originally recorded in 2018 for a video shown at Mrs. Obama's book tour events, People reported.
Malia, a junior at Harvard, says her mom is 'no longer facing that same scrutiny' since their family left the White House in 2017, adding that 'being able to let all of that leave your mind, creates so much more space.'
Proud: Michelle Obama's daughters Malia (left) and Sasha (right) open up about their mother in the new Netflix documentary 'Becoming,' which chronicles the former first lady's book tour
Candid: Malia says her mom is 'no longer facing that same scrutiny' since they left the White House, adding that 'being able to let all of that leave your mind, creates so much more space'
Meanwhile, Sasha, a freshman at the University of Michigan, shares her joy over her mother's accomplishments.
'I'm excited for her to be proud of what she's done,' she says. 'Because I think that that's the most important thing for a human to do, is be proud of themselves.'
In another scene toward the end of the film, Malia visits her mother backstage after an event for her stadium-sized book tour, which had a string of dates at sold-out arenas.
Many of the moderators were A-list celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Stephen Colbert.
'You're so good, I love you too much,' Malia tells her mom, admitting that she 'cried again' while watching her on stage.
When Mrs. Obama asks her why she is 'always crying,' her eldest daughter explains how it feels to see thousands of people moved by her words and acknowledge all of her hard work.
Admiration: Sasha adds that she is 'excited' for her mom 'to be proud of what she's done'
'This has demonstrated in a way — it’s just like, damn, those eight years weren’t for nothing. You know?' Malia tells her mom. 'You see that huge crowd out there and that last kind of speech you gave about — people are here because people really believe in hope and hope in other people.'
Malia then smiles and rolls her eyes a bit as she adds, 'And also every time you guys play Stevie Wonder, I don’t know, I cry a little bit.'
Mrs. Obama's husband, former President Barack Obama, also makes an appearance in the film along with her mother, Marian Robinson, and brother, Craig Robinson.
Netflix made the surprise announcement about the release of the documentary last week, describing the film as 'an intimate look into the life' of the former first lady.
'Becoming' premieres on Wednesday, May 6, just days after the streaming giant released the trailer for the documentary.
In the preview, Mrs. Obama opens up about her working-class upbringing and her struggles as a black woman.
Support system: Mrs. Obama's husband, former President Barack Obama, also makes an appearance in the documentary about her post-White House life
Honest: The former first lady hares that her mother, Marian Robinson (pictured), always says 'Michelle and Barack Obama aren't special'
'I am from the South Side of Chicago. That tells you as much about me as you need to know,' she says.
Set to Alicia Keys' 'Girl on Fire,' the video features old photos of Mrs. Obama as a child in the neighborhood, including pictures of her with her parents, Fraser and Marian Robinson.
'It was a typical working-class community: some good music, some good barbecue, some good times,' she recalls of her formative years.
The trailer cuts to Michelle looking back on her time as first lady while speaking at a community engagement.
'So little of who I am happened in those eight years. So much more of who I was happened before,' she explains.
Director Nadia Hallgren weaved together Mrs. Obama's commentary on her life with behind-the-scenes footage of her tour and her on-stage interviews.
Candid: Michelle opens up about her working-class upbringing in the South Side of Chicago in the trailer for 'Becoming'
Looking back: Set to Alicia Keys' 'Girl on Fire,' the trailer features old photos of Obama as a child in her neighborhood, including pictures of her with her parents
Memories: The former first lady recalls her community having 'some good music, some good barbecue, [and] some good times'
The trailer highlights the struggles she has faced as a black woman. During one interview with journalist Michelle Norris, she recalls how her high school guidance counselor thought she was 'reaching too high.'
'We can't afford to wait for the world to be equal to start feeling seen,' she says after being asked how she persevered as a black woman. 'I feel like I got to share with you all that the energy that's out there is much better than what we see.'
Mrs. Obama also opens up about becoming a media target when she was candid and vulnerable on the campaign trail.
'The only thing I can share is that it hurts. That changes the shape of a person's soul,' she says in the documentary, according to the Associated Press.
In the trailer, she quotes her mother as she insists that she and her husband are not extraordinary people.
'As my mother would say, Michelle and Barack Obama aren't special. There are millions of Michelle and Barack Obamas all over the world,' she says as footage shows her husband giving her a sweet kiss on the cheek.
'If we can open up a little bit more to each other and share our stories, that's what breaks down barriers,' she adds.
The trailer ends with a crowd cheering for Mrs. Obama at one of her sell-out book tour events.
'This is totally me, unplugged for the first time,' she says.
The documentary is the latest release from Higher Ground Productions, the production company created by Obamas. Their exclusive multi-film deal with Netflix has already proven fruitful.
Their first film, 'American Factory,' by Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar, won the Academy Award for best documentary earlier this year. The Obamas did not attend the Oscars, nor received a statuette.
Higher Ground was also behind the acclaimed recently released documentary 'Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution,' by James Lebrecht and Nicole Newnham.
Mrs. Obama's memoir, 'Becoming,' has sold more than 11 million copies and been translated into more than 20 languages. The former first lady's popularity has made her a potentially pivotal figure in the 2020 presidential campaign.
Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, recently said that he'd pick her as a running mate 'in a heartbeat,' before adding that he didn't think she 'has any desire to live in the White House again.'
'It’s just like, damn, those eight years weren’t for nothing': Michelle Obama's daughters share their admiration for their mom in new Netflix film - as Malia admits she cried while watching the former first lady's book tour
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May 06, 2020
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