2016: Obama's America

2016: Obama's America is an intriguing documentary from the year 2012, written and directed by Dinesh D'Souza and John Sullivan. Based on D'Souza's 2010 book "The Roots of Obama's Rage", the film features remarkable historical narratives, in-depth interviews, and adeptly-crafted reconstructions. Notable appearances are made by Jay Bastian, former Vice President Joe Biden, and Cait Brasel.

The film takes a speculative approach, conjecturing what the global stage would look like in 2016 under the continuing rule of President Barack Obama. D'Souza claims that the President's political outlook has been heavily influenced by his father's anti-colonialism, and he asserts that this worldview will significantly impact America's standing in the world.

The documentary blends current events, personal narratives, and in-depth interviews to intricately suture its speculative thesis about the future under President Obama's administration. The film carries the audience on a journey from the President's early life in Hawaii and Indonesia to his formative college years in New York. It interprets how these experiences add layers to Obama's ideological makeup, ultimately influencing his political philosophy and, by extension, his decisions as President of the United States.

Joe Biden, as the Vice President serving under Obama's first term, is one of the central figures in the film. His role provides a vital foregrounding of the political backdrop within which the narrative unfolds. Additionally, with the inclusion of figures like Jay Bastian and Cait Brasel, the documentary succeeds in providing different perspectives, contributing to a multilayered analysis of Obama's administrative techniques.

D'Souza's direction and interpretation are undoubtedly controversial and thought-provoking, challenging the viewers to question, analyze, and form their own judgments about the unseen forces shaping political decisions. The documentary incorporates D'Souza's interviews with various individuals, notably Obama's half-brother George in Kenya, and another with Paul Vitz, a psychologist who provides an insightful understanding of the influence father and childhood figures have on personality development.

The implications of his Kenyan heritage and the absence of his father are dissected as possible influences on Obama's policies. His relationship with his mother, as well as the maternal grandfather who served as a surrogate father figure, are also scrutinized. Remarkably, the film does not solely rely on political criticism. It navigates familial, personal, and ideological areas to scrutinize Obama's decision-making process more comprehensively.

The cinematic journey takes the audience across four continents, where the consequences of Obama's policies can be ascertained and evaluated. It introduces places like Kenya, Indonesia, and India, as well as Great Britain and the United States themselves, to present an expansive global perspective.

Technically, 2016: Obama's America employs a compelling narrative approach. It balances D'Souza's voice-overs with extensive archive footage, historical photographs, picturesque landscapes, interviews, and re-enactments of significant moments. The editing and cinematography create a cohesive story that combines travel, biography, history, and political analysis. Though some may find the film politically loaded or agenda-driven, it undeniably fosters conversation about the connection between personal history and political viewpoints.

The film is rated PG by MPAA, largely due to thematic elements, brief language, and smoking images. It opened doors to different discussions, debates, and controversies upon its release, which helped it gain traction at the box office. While it is definitely political in nature, the approach is not completely partisan and invites viewers to reflect critically about individual influence on policy-making and the presidency.

In a nutshell, 2016: Obama's America is a powerful narrative of historical exploration, providing a sense of continuity and perspective from Obama's past to the future the filmmaker believed he would engineer. It takes the audience into the roots of the influence on politics through familial and ideological lenses, aimed at prompting intellectual engagement from viewers irrespective of their political leanings. It is a substantial documentary that provokes conversation and critical thinking around the dynamics of personal influence in public service, making for an engaging and exciting cinema experience.