By Patrick Donovan
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) May 28, 2018 – HBO’s documentary “The Final Year” chronicles the final year of the Obama administration. It provides a provocative insider’s look at the key members of President Obama’s foreign-policy team including Secretary of State John Kerry, UN Ambassador Samantha Power, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes and National Security Adviser Susan Rice. It was a period of many challenges as they worked to solidify the administration’s policies, promote diplomacy and redefine how the U.S. confronts questions of war and peace – all while preparing to hand over the machinery of American power to a new administration.
What struck me most and resonated throughout was their passion speaking about what makes America great, who we are as a country, and what we do around the world.
I was taken by how the President and his foreign policy team were intent on doing whatever they could to further diplomatic solutions in the world, and to prepare the way for the new Trump Administration.
To President Obama, the ancient sites of this great planet grounded him and helped him to understand that who he is and was, is just another in a continuing line of successions of our powerful democracy.
We are a country of immigrants and everyone in this great nation, save for the Native Americans, are the sons and daughters of immigrants. What President Obama did over the 8 years he was in office was try and make the most impact in the world and for our country.
“The Final Year” offers a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into our government, as it was, under the leadership of President Barack Hussein Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America.
This worthy Official Selection of the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, directed by Greg Barker, is available on demand until Sunday, June 24, 2018.
