BARRY

US, 2016, 104 minutes, Colour.
Devon Terrell, Anya Taylor -Joy, Jason Mitchell, Ellar Coltrane, Jenna Elfman, Linus Roache, Avi Nash, John Benjamin Hickey, Ashley Judd, Sawyer Pierce.
Directed by Vikram Gandhi.

There were two films made about President Barack Obama, about his life well before he became President, and they were released in the last year of his presidency, 2016.

One was Southside With You, set in 1989, Parker Sawyers as Obama, his wooing of his future wife Michelle.

The other was Barry, set in 1981, the young Obama coming to New York City after being born in Hawaii, living in Indonesia, now studying at Columbia University. He is played by Devon Terrell.

Barry was Obama’s nickname and this film shows him somewhat reserved and introverted, very conscious about his mixed race lineage, not seeing his father who is living in Kenya and who was killed in a car accident, meeting with his white mother, played by Ashley Judd, who was very supportive of him.

He experiences racial prejudice, walking on the campus and being held up by the police unlike fellow white students, always being asked for his identification. He makes some friends, becomes very attached to a white girl and has a relationship with her, eventually breaking it off.

The film invites its audience to understand something of the background of Barack Obama before he made any decisions about his future.

1. The title? Barack Obama’s nickname? The story of the young Obama? Audience interest, like or dislike of him?

2. Audience knowledge of Obama, his Kenyan father, born in Hawaii, education in Indonesia, studies in New York? His parents, their marriages and divorces? His not seeing his father, but writing letters to him? The sequence of his mother’s visit and his relationship with her?

3. 1981, New York City, the Reagan era, the political background?

4. Obama, his age, early 20s, going to Columbia, as a character in himself, his personality, the mimicking of the older Obama in manner, accents and intonations? His not yet having ambitions?

5. His personality, more introverted, slow in communication? His Indian friend and his patter, rough styler? Staying with him? Obama developing his identity, his study, the conversations with his white friends, their help? Yet the police always stopping him and asking him for ID, not believing him as a student? His classes, study? His social life, going to parties, not particularly enjoying them?

6. His mixed background, his white mother, consciousness, concerned? His manner, way of speaking? The locals antagonising him?

7. His mother, her background, the marriage, divorces, her visit, going to see Black Orpheus, their discussions, her encouragement, comfortable with each other?

8. The absence of his father, his father’s career and reputation, studies, imprisonment? Obama seeing his father once? His drinking, his writing the letter to his father, the phone call, his father’s death?

9. Charlotte, the importance of her relationship with Barry, the mutual attraction, the time together, the quality of the relationship? The discussion, mixed races? The dates? His going to meet her parents, the assumption that he was the assistant in the hotel toilet and offered five dollars? They’re welcoming him? His going to the wedding on the day of the news of his father’s death, meeting the mixed race couple and their reassurance of the happy life?

10. Discussions with Charlotte, the relationship, affection, the break?

11. Socials, the encounter with the girl, the dance, his being bashed, walking home, the effect on him, upset?

12. Discussion with his friends, the white friends, saving him from the police, issues of accommodation?

13. The basketball sequences, his play, with the various teams, with the young boy? An outlet?

14. The background profile – with no indication of the decisions that he would make?