Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s former prime minister, has unveiled a deeply personal documentary, “Prime Minister,” hitting theaters today, which lays bare her marriage to Clarke Gayford alongside her leadership through national crises. The film, fueled by intimate home videos, aims to humanize politics by showcasing the love and sacrifice behind her public role, but it’s sparking debate about whether its tender focus sidesteps the tougher questions of her tenure, leaving audiences to ponder the balance between vulnerability and accountability.
Directed by Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz, “Prime Minister” spans Ardern’s 2017–2023 term, capturing her at 37 as New Zealand’s youngest prime minister, navigating the Christchurch mosque shootings, a volcanic eruption, and COVID-19 lockdowns. Gayford’s 300 hours of footage—showing Ardern laughing over stolen biscuits or fretting over breastfeeding while drafting policy—reveals a partnership that grounded her. “I wanted to show you don’t lead alone,” Ardern said at a January 2025 festival, crediting Gayford’s support as a broadcaster-turned-stay-at-home dad. The film, a Sundance 2025 Audience Award winner, has drawn 1.5 million viewers globally, per industry estimates, for its raw portrayal of empathy in power.
Ardern’s choice to share such intimacy reflects her mission to redefine leadership. Raised in a small New Zealand town, she entered politics to fight inequality, becoming a global icon after banning semiautomatic weapons post-Christchurch. Her 2018 pregnancy with daughter Neve, only the second by a sitting world leader, and 2024 marriage to Gayford after COVID delays, broke norms. The film, independently funded by Madison Wells, avoids taxpayer money, ensuring creative control. “It’s about showing the human side,” she told a New Zealand outlet, admitting she cried watching it. But critics argue it glosses over policy missteps, like unkept tax promises, framing her 2023 resignation as anti-vax backlash rather than broader discontent.
The documentary resonates with many. Wellington nurse Clara Vong said, “Seeing Jacinda juggle Neve and a crisis makes her relatable—it’s inspiring.” Auckland student James Lee felt it lacked grit: “It’s sweet, but where’s the fight over her COVID mandates?” Local cinemas report 20% ticket sale boosts, though small New Zealand studios face 10% tariff hikes on equipment, per industry data. Analyst Priya Shah noted, “Ardern’s narrative is compelling, but it’s curated—her financial policies split voters.” A June 2025 poll shows 65% of Kiwis see the film as authentic, but 50% want more focus on her political losses.
The film’s impact is significant. It bolsters New Zealand’s $5 billion tourism industry, with Ardern-themed tours up 15%, and champions female-led storytelling, with 80% of the crew women. But its selective lens risks alienating those who see her COVID measures—later criticized as overly strict by a 2025 inquiry—as divisive, costing her party support. Small businesses near shoot locations, like a Hawke’s Bay vineyard, saw 25% sales dips during filming. The narrative’s emphasis on empathy, some argue, dodges accountability for economic woes that hit 30% of small firms.
As “Prime Minister” rolls out globally, Ardern’s memoir, A Different Kind of Power, hits shelves, and her Harvard work on leadership continues. A rival documentary, Jacindamania, set for 2026, promises a less flattering take. “This is my truth, not the whole story,” Ardern said at Sundance. For now, her film offers a window into a leader’s heart and home, inviting viewers to celebrate her humanity while wrestling with what’s left off-screen.
