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Itʼs So Hard to Say Goodbye
Catching the Obamas on the Big Screen
The ending of the Obama Era is upon us . The released film , Southside With You produced by singer / songwriter John Legend is a beautiful love story about the meeting , dating and courting of President Barack and his illustrious wife Michelle . Another film release , Barry is an online movie directed by Vikram Gandhi / Blackbear Productions . Its focus is on Obama ’ s years at Harvard University . Two different producers , directors and two very different films .
The young actor who portrayed President Obama in Barry , Devon Terrell examines the thought process of a young , biracial man . Barry ’ s father is African , from Kenya and his mother is white , from Kansas . Barry is faced with dilemmas and trials of trying to fit into both cultures in urban New York , as a college student .
The film begins in 1981 with him sitting on a plane , smoking a cigarette , while reading a letter from his father . His father encourages him to focus on his studies . Later , it is revealed when his father separated from the family , he returned to Kenya . His mother remarried and moved to Indonesia , then Honolulu where Barry spent most of his childhood .
Barry developed a positive mindset and will to help the people in his community , despite the conditions of his
environment . His inner power manifested and the advice from his father helped him persevere . Barry faced prejudices even before he registered for Harvard . There is a scene where he is sitting on the steps admiring the Harvard campus and is approached by security . Unable to provide sufficient student identification , he is asked to leave . Later in the film -- after he has received a student ID -- an identical incident occurs . This time , he notices campus security is not questioning any of the other students . Just as he is about to address the officer , a white classmate appears and validates his presence .
Barry finds solace in reading . There are multiple scenes where he is reading the Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison . It is the story of a man in New York City who believes he is invisible to American society . The character is experiencing growing up and living as a model Black citizen in an underground hole .
The Souls of Black Folks by W . E . B . Dubois is purchased by Barry and reality sets in . Through various scenes , he is exposed to the behaviors and struggles to understand the mentality of poverty stricken neighborhoods . He develops a strong desire , a strong love and a strong need for change . His
empathy , determination and drive became a moving force and his foundation .
Legend ’ s rendition of the accounts between Barack and Michelle Robinson in Southside with You . Barack was just 30 years old while working as a intern , for Michelle . He was intrigued by her brilliance , which eventually led to an undeniable love . It is the traditional loveliness of how two people realized they are meant to be together , under such unusual circumstances .
Barry a must see , but also be sure to grab Southside with You with your popcorn and soda . It is available for checkout from the Waterloo Public Library .
Nelson discovered her talent for writing in her early childhood . “ It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to engulf words and allow them to create pictures that allows the imagination to convey messages .” Gil Scott-Heron , poet / musician is her inspiration .
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