Now that the world has seen Donald Trump’s disastrous Axios interview, it’s clearer than ever how unfit he is to run a McDonald’s, much less the United States. And in light of what we all saw, the timing of the new doc The Way I See it couldn’t be better. The film highlights official White House photographer Pete Souza, who has captured the administrations of two very different Presidents: Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama.
We talk often about the power of the moving image, but the same can be said of still photography. In some ways, they are better at capturing historical moments, in particular those of a United States President. In a single frame, a photograph can create an idea that will list a lifetime. Obama’s presidency was already historic, but it would be less so without some of what Souza was able to snap on his camera.
Furthermore, the inclusion of Reagan’s administration offers some much-needed bipartisanship. While there wasn’t anything nearly as monumental about Reagan’s presidency, he is still the paragon of what many Republicans want a Commander-in-Chief to be. Between Reagan and Obama, we see what a President can mean to people; we see them enacting the functions we have entrusted them with.
On the other hand, are there ANY memorable photos of Donald Trump that aren’t of him doing something stupid or cruel? There are no photos of Trump that matter because he doesn’t fulfill the duties of President.
I think this looks fascinating. The Way I See It is directed by Dawn Porter, and opens in September.
SYNOPSIS: Based on the New York Times #1 bestseller comes The Way I See It, an unprecedented look behind the scenes of two of the most iconic Presidents in American History, Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan, as seen through the eyes of renowned photographer Pete Souza. As Official White House Photographer, Souza was an eyewitness to the unique and tremendous responsibilities of being the most powerful person on Earth. The movie reveals how Souza transforms from a respected photojournalist to a searing commentator on the issues we face as a country and a people.
