8D FRIDAY, SEPT. 18-THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 2020 Movies IDAHO STATESMAN IDAHOSTATESMAN.COM/ENTERTAINMENT

...... The Obama years, through the lens of The Way I See It EEE a two-time White House photographer Rated: PG-13 for brief strong language. Starring: , Doris Kearns BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS Goodwin, Samantha Power. Director: Dawn Porter. Running time: 100 Pete Souza served as minutes. Theaters: Flicks, the official White House Village Cinema. photographer for a pair of ...... two-term presidents, one a Republican hero, , and a Democratic from various public talks hero: . and presentations in the The son of Portuguese U.S. and abroad. Tour emigres, a nurse and a footage-dependent docu- boat mechanic, Souza mentaries such as this one worked as a Chicago Tri- carry a built-in limitation; bune photographer (1998- we get a sense of how the 2007) and, before that, a subject and the work Chicago Sun-Times pho- operates in a friendly tojournalist (one of 25 – public sphere, but it’s 25! – in 1982-1983). His sometimes at the expen- lavish account of the Oba- sive of more difficult or ma years, “Obama: An ambiguous alleyways. Intimate Portrait,” be- Souza comes off as a came a bestseller, and genuine and genuinely Souza followed it up with humble talent. There is, “Shade: A Tale of Two however, an element of Presidents.” The new intentional or inadvertent documentary “The Way I image-packaging that See It” grew out of those goes with any White two books, and Souza’s PETE SOUZA White House House photographer’s subsequent tours and In this handout provided by the White House, President Barack Obama hugs first lady in the Red beat. One wishes Souza speaking engagements on Room while Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, left, smiles prior to the National Newspaper Publishers Association were heard on the subject the subject of the approxi- (NNPA) at the White House on March 20, 2009, in Washington, D.C. of the fine, tricky line mately two million sep- between reportorial au- arate photos he took dur- thenticity and visual flat- ing the Obama years. Once about the dignity of the probably know it: It cap- keyed push for more of tery. took office, Souza says in office of the presidency.” tures the moment when that access. Trump shut Just as Souza’s “Shade” the documentary, he The results pack a se- 5-year-old Jacob Philadel- all that down, confining book presented stark, couldn’t ignore the man’s rious emotional wallop if phia touched the head of White House photog- demoralizing contrasts disrespect for the office, you miss the Obama era. the president to see if raphers to a few canned between Obama’s hand- for the rule of law, for so And, probably, nothing of Obama’s hair felt like his photos. ling of the presidency and many people around the the sort if you don’t. own. “The Way I See It” Trump’s, the film does the world. He says he With a lot of input from Souza enjoyed an un- introduces us to Souza’s same. “Not having a com- couldn’t remain neutral Souza, Porter’s film tells precedented degree of family; his life, now in petent, honest person in about anything political the stories behind the access to the inner work- Madison, Wisc. (he’s seen the presidency really does anymore. “This is not a photos. Many have be- ings, private meetings and buying kale at the week- matter,” Souza says at one partisan thing to me,” he come famous, profoundly unguarded moments of end farmer’s market by point. His best, everyday says in director Dawn moving emblems of one the Obama administra- the capitol building, photos said the same Porter’s portrait of the politician’s humanity, tion. His job under Rea- which is the most Madi- thing without words. onetime fly on the wall such as the 2009 image gan and, later, Obama, son thing imaginable); turned visual activist. “It’s “.” You meant a constant if low- and generous excerpts