Prime Minister: A Portrait of Leading with Kindness (film review)

Jacinda Ardern has been analysed, criticised, and admired in equal measure. Prime Minister, the new documentary directed by Lindsay Utz and Michelle Walshe, cuts through the noise with unusual clarity. It is not only a political film but an emotional exploration of what it means to lead while remaining defiantly human. 

The most intimate moments come from home videos filmed by Ardern’s partner, Clarke Gayford. We see her breastfeeding between briefings and preparing for cabinet meetings as her toddler interrupts. These scenes reveal the many demands she navigated as a new mother and a new Prime Minister. As a viewer you will probably be amazed at how she balances everything, yet she speaks openly about impostor syndrome, parental guilt, and the exhausting logistics of balancing motherhood with national leadership.

The treatment of the Christchurch mosque shootings forms the film’s most emotional chapter. Ardern recounts the moment she received the first call and the horror of understanding what had unfolded. She is depicted as a rare kind of modern leader, one who sits with mourners, consoles them, and promises that the country will change.

The documentary shows that genuine empathy shaped her political choices, such as radical gun reform after Christchurch. Jacinda is presented as a brave leader in the response to the shootings, as she puts aside her own nerves and anxieties in order to care for the grieving families.

She delivers difficult truths with thoughtfulness, even when she knows they will be painful to hear, and calls out the racism and Islamophobia at the heart of the attack. She repeatedly asserts that this hatred does not represent New Zealand, and that she will not tolerate it. This again stands in contrast to how many leaders respond after crises; her compassion and decisiveness spark a sense of hope that leadership can be different.

At the same time, it brings a quiet sadness in realising that not all communities around the world have received the same level of kindness, clarity, or action from their leaders in times of tragedy.  

The documentary revisits the COVID-19 pandemic, showing how Ardern grounded her decisions in scientific advice and a moral commitment to protect the vulnerable. New Zealand entered one of the world’s strictest lockdowns, creating a very different pandemic experience from that of many countries, highlighting Ardern’s focus on collective responsibility. This section was particularly emotional, especially in light of the current Covid enquiry happening here in the UK. It was especially striking to compare New Zealand’s approach with the way the UK responded. The differences in messaging, timing, and overall strategy were hard to ignore, and it was difficult to realise how different our experience could have been.

That contrast brought up a mix of frustration and sadness, because it highlighted just how much leadership choices shape the lives and wellbeing of millions of people. At the same time, it showed how deeply our leaders matter, not only in policy, but in the tone they set, the values they prioritise, and the trust they build during a crisis.

A stark contrast appears with the occupation at Parliament grounds, which began as an anti-vaccine mandate protest and grew into a conspiracy driven encampment. Ardern reflects on this with sadness, recognising the pain of watching the country fracture and the personal cost of becoming a target for public fury.

In the final moments she speaks candidly about stepping down, acknowledging she ‘no longer had enough in the tank’ for another crisis. Yet she remains optimistic and confident that meaningful change is possible. Her leadership demonstrated that belief.

After the screening at the Glasgow Film Theatre Jacinda joined the audience for a conversation with Kezia Dugdale. Jacinda received warm applause, two standing ovations and spoke openly about motherhood, sexism, her Scottish roots, and the influence Ernest Shackleton has had on her.

Watching the documentary was deeply moving. It is full of heart and personality and offers a reminder that empathy in leadership is not weakness but strength. Through crisis, backlash, celebration and burnout, Ardern emerges as a glass half full leader. In an age marked by cynicism, the film suggests that optimism may be the most radical act of all.

Prime Minister is screening at The Glasgow Film Theatre and across the UK from 5th December