The Final Year
The Final Year is a 2017 American documentary film directed by Greg Barker. The film is a chronicle of the Presidency of [Barack Obama|Barack Obama administration]'s foreign policy team and the events of Obama's final year in office. While President Obama features at certain points, the documentary crew mainly followed the activities of Secretary of State John Kerry, UN Ambassador Samantha Power, National Security Advisor Susan Rice and Ben Rhodes (White [House staffer)|Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes]. Although the documentary does not feature Donald Trump, the emphasis among the main players switches as the final year progresses from enacting a foreign policy legacy to taking measures to protect that legacy from being dismantled by the incoming administration.
The film premiered at the 2017 [Toronto International Film Festival]. It was given a limited release on January 19, 2018.
Reception
Scott Tobias of Variety wrote that "there's a promotional quality to the documentary that flattens out the political drama."Oktay Ege Kozak of Paste wrote, "The truly terrifying part of The Final Year, at least as it relates to the current administration, is how concisely and effectively Barker captures the day-to-day mania of a White House that actually has its affairs in order."