Michelle Obama's 'Becoming' Memoir Will Soon Be a Netflix Documentary

Netflix has teamed up with former first lady Michelle Obama for a new documentary following her journey as she toured in support of her recent memoir Becoming.

The film aims to cover her life after her husband's eight-year term as president of the United States and documents her interactions and connections made with communities across the country.

Read Netflix's synopsis below:

Becoming is an intimate look into the life of former first lady Michelle Obama during a moment of profound change, not only for her personally but for the country she and her husband served over eight impactful years in the White House. The film offers a rare and up-close look at her life, taking viewers behind the scenes as she embarks on a 34-city tour that highlights the power of community to bridge our divides and the spirit of connection that comes when we openly and honestly share our stories.

Obama announced the documentary in an Instagram post earlier today, sharing that she intends to release the doc while the world is in quarantine because "our stories help cement our values and strengthen our connections. Sharing them shows us the way forward."

She added, "I treasure the memories and that sense of connection now more than ever, as we struggle together to weather this pandemic, as we care for our loved ones, and cope with loss, confusion, and uncertainty. It's hard these days to feel grounded or hopeful, but I hope that like me, you'll find joy and a bit of respite in what [director] Nadia has made. Because she's a rare talent, someone whose intelligence and compassion for others comes through in every frame she shoots. Most importantly, she understands the meaning of community, the power of community, and her work is magically able to depict it."

The documentary was directed by Nadia Hallgren and arrives on Netflix on May 6.

Previously, Michelle and Barack Obama teamed up with Netflix for their 2018 documentary American Factory. 

Watch the teaser for Becoming below, where you can also find Obama's Instagram announcement.


 

 

 

 

 

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I'm excited to let you know that on May 6, @Netflix will release BECOMING, a documentary film directed by Nadia Hallgren that looks at my life and the experiences I had while touring following the release of my memoir. Those months I spent traveling—meeting and connecting with people in cities across the globe—drove home the idea that what we share in common is deep and real and can't be messed with. In groups large and small, young and old, unique and united, we came together and shared stories, filling those spaces with our joys, worries, and dreams. We processed the past and imagined a better future. In talking about the idea of 'becoming,' many of us dared to say our hopes out loud. I treasure the memories and that sense of connection now more than ever, as we struggle together to weather this pandemic, as we care for our loved ones, and cope with loss, confusion, and uncertainty. It's hard these days to feel grounded or hopeful, but I hope that like me, you'll find joy and a bit of respite in what Nadia has made. Because she's a rare talent, someone whose intelligence and compassion for others comes through in every frame she shoots. Most importantly, she understands the meaning of community, the power of community, and her work is magically able to depict it. As many of you know, I'm a hugger. My whole life, I've seen it as the most natural and equalizing gesture one human can make toward another—the easiest way of saying, "I'm here for you." And this is one of the toughest parts of our new reality: Things that once felt simple—going to see a friend, sitting with someone who is hurting, embracing someone new—are now not simple at all. But I'm here for you. And I know you are here for one another. Even as we can no longer safely gather we need to stay open and able to put ourselves in other people's shoes. Empathy is our lifeline here. Let's use it to redirect our attention toward what matters most, and find ways to better remake the world in the image of our hopes. Even in hard times, our stories help cement our values and strengthen our connections. Sharing them shows us the way forward. I love and miss you all. #IAmBecoming

A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on Apr 27, 2020 at 10:00am PDT