Jacinda Ardern’s leadership style—rooted in empathy and resilience—takes center stage in this compelling documentary about politics, motherhood and crisis management.
This is one in a series of film reviews from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, focused on films by women, trans or nonbinary directors that tell compelling stories about the lives of women and girls.
If you want a glimmer of hope that there are still sane, compassionate and intelligent politicians in the world, Prime Minister—winner of the Audience Award in the World Cinema Documentary Competition—will offer just that and more.
Even though the five years (2017-2023) former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spent in office were marked by demonstrable turmoil—religiously motivated violence, a pandemic, natural disasters and protests—her sure-footed and community-minded approach to leadership shines through in this inspiring documentary directed by Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz.
Ardern never intended to become prime minister. Instead, she became the leader of New Zealand’s Labour Party seven weeks before the election when the current leader resigned and didn’t expect to win. She was 37 years old when she took office and also pregnant, making her the youngest female world leader and only the second head of state in modern history to give birth while in office.
In some moments, Ardern rocks her baby’s bassinet with one foot while reading policy documents … In others, she responds with articulate outrage at the injustices faced by people in her country and around the world.
Ardern’s lack of artifice is perhaps one of her most appealing characteristics—especially in a world where politicians so often obfuscate, bluster and pretend. But more significantly, the film highlights Ardern’s determination and resilience
In some moments, Ardern rocks her baby’s bassinet with one foot while reading policy documents and breastfeeds in her office. In others, she responds with articulate outrage at the injustices faced by people in her country and around the world.
After the horrific massacre at a mosque in Christchurch in March 2019 that left 51 people dead, Ardern was widely praised for her compassion towards the Muslim community and immediately pushed for stricter gun laws in New Zealand, leading to a bill that banned assault rifles by a vote of 119 to 1.
She also supported the survivors and the families of the 22 dead after a volcanic eruption on Whakaari/White Island in late 2019. She introduced the Abortion Legislation Act of 2020, which “aim[ed] to treat abortion as a health issue, not a crime.” When COVID-19 began to sweep the world, Ardern closed New Zealand’s borders, mandating one of the strictest shut downs of any country. Due in large part to her efforts, the country was declared COVID-free by June 2020 and didn’t have another outbreak until 2021.
Despite the success of New Zealand’s COVID measures and frequently stressing that her primary strategy was to save lives, Ardern began facing criticism for her vaccine mandates, among other things, with protesters taking up residence in front of Parliament and parroting far-right talking points equating pandemic mandates with fascism.
The film uses an engaging mix of interviews, news clips, documentary footage, formerly classified audio interviews she recording over the course of her term for an oral history archive, and personal videos recorded by her partner Clarke Gayford in their home and her office.
In her introduction to the film, co-director Walshe says, “I think this film asks of our audiences: What can we expect of our leaders going into a future where we have communities that are deeply fractured?”
As such, Prime Minister offers a sympathetic portrayal of a politician with a vision marked by optimism and strength who admirably insists on the importance of kindness and collectivism in politics.
