Product Details

• Actors: Barack Obama
• Directors: Bob Hercules
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: FIRST RUN FEATURES
• DVD Release Date: December 11, 2007
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000WS6YA0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,619 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Senator Obama Goes To Africa" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

SENATOR OBAMA GOES TO AFRICA - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Documentary Work + Remarkable Subject = Historical Film, August 22, 2008

By 

Scott Forbes (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Senator Obama Goes To Africa (DVD)

I have read the following books regarding the Illinois Senator: Obama's "Dreams of My Father...," "The Audacity of Hope" and "Obama: From Promise to Power" by David Mendell. My recommendation would be to see this powerful documentary after reading at least Mendell's book, as the events in Bob Hercules and Keith Walker's film are described in "Obama: From Promise to Power" in detailed chronology. For me, it was exciting to be watching "Senator Obama Goes to Africa" and knowing (from Mendell's book) about the events I was seeing. It was almost like I was a tour guide for my family as we watched the documentary.

Ultimately, what I'm saying is that there are several sources of information on Obama's career and life that compliment each other and each make their own unique contributions. Obama's "Dreams of My Father..." adds a personal background to this documentary that is important, too.

But, focusing on the Hercules and Walker work, it could be said that there is nothing more powerful than seeing images of things that really happened. For the most part, a lot of us take photography, film (etcetera) as the closest thing to evidence of the truth that there is. Of course, like any work, a documentary film is edited, and it has the signature of its makers and their points of view. Yet, Hercules and Walker seem to manage pretty well to keep themselves out of the way and let viewers see this journey for themselves. As in all good documentaries, it gives you that feeling that you're an unnoticed "fly on the wall," able to see things without them seeing you. Another metaphor is that it's like a window, and it achieves what they call in film school and scholarly research, "the willingnesss to suspend disbelief." The documentary pulls you in, making you forget yourself and the fact that you are watching a film. You are inside it, believing its "reality."

I would not want to write about the film's content's here, as they would spoil things for others yet to see "Senator Obama Goes to Africa." But, I can say a few general things.

Obama narrates this documentary himself ("voice-overs") in a modest but very focused way, and his comments are sparse when compared to the percentage of the film that goes without any commentary at all. Michelle is with him on the trip, and she comments on her feelings about events happening during the trip, too. This journey to the continent from which his ancestry comes is pretty remarkable and shows Obama's overwhelming popularity in each place he visits, as well as his extremely effective ways of bringing attention to important issues out in the open. There's a lot more I could say, but I'll keep it to this last point: People are crazy about him, just wild.

You have to see this film. It will be in archives for centuries for future generations to see.

3.0 out of 5 stars Travelogue of then Senator Obama, November 24, 2009

By 

Kwesi Soti Mtundu (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Senator Obama Goes To Africa (DVD)

A good documentary showing slices of the man and politician. Pretty much a precursor of what we saw during the 2008 campaign. No insight into his view of Africa other than confirming for me that his engagement of the continent is at a distance. While focusing a small bit on economics the big scenes are related to the problem areas. It does, however, capture the real gift he has for exciting people, particularly those who see him as a symbol of something bigger.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, May 14, 2008

By 

J. Farris "creative one" (East Coast, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Senator Obama Goes To Africa (DVD)

With the upcoming election looming, this video helps illustrate the depth and concern that Senator Obama will bring to foreign policy, not only in Africa, but in a broader sense. It also adds to the evidence and intrigue of his personality as genuine and highlights the candor he brings to potentially difficult subjects. The imagery of Africa, the brief visit with his family in Kenya, and the glimpse of how Senator Obama is viewed abroad are added reasons to view this item.