In some respects, both Prime Minister and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You are stories about motherhood, told in vastly different way. With Prime Minister, we have a documentary detailing Jacinda Ardern‘s rise to political power, which coincided with the birth of her daughter, which also serves as a focal point for the film. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is a surreal and complete fictional depiction of motherhood, but entrenched in some very real maternal emotions. Both films had their premieres at Sundance this past weekend.
Prime Minister
Prime Minister is the type of documentary that hits all the expected notes and little more, which is perfectly fine for what it is. Those hoping for a truly revelatory detailing of Jacinda Ardern’s life might be disappointed, but few should be expecting that from a film like this. Directors Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz likely give audiences exactly what they came for, and in doing so, succeed in creating an uplifting, and somewhat cursory, biographical documentary.
Central to Prime Minister is New Zealand’s former prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, who reluctantly rose to political prowess as her country’s de facto leader. The film details her experience with parenthood (which coincided with her first year as prime minister), her unique and somewhat controversial approach to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, and the eventual backlash against her that ultimately led to her leaving politics. The film is pieced together with both new and old footage, most of which came from Ardern’s husband, Clarke Gayford, who methodically recorded their life over the years.
Much of what is documented in Prime Minister is likely not new for anyone who keeps up with current events, as Ardern has been thoroughly covered in the media during her time in politics. The film does add context to her personal life — at least for North American audiences — particularly around her pregnancy and challenges with motherhood as a political leader. Walshe and Utz should be lauded for the way news events and more personal vignettes are spliced together seamlessly. The packaging of what the world sees, versus the more intimate interactions behind closed doors, does make for a pleasant and rather buoyant film. As a whole, Prime Minister is easily digestible, and it makes interesting claims about the state of world politics, particularly when it comes to the more radicalized sentiments from certain groups. Paired with its impact on gender dynamics, the film ends up being more impactful than one might expect.
In the end, Prime Minister adds some degree of nuance to the already well-documented qualms that Ardern experienced on the world stage as the leader of her own country. The result is an uplifting and oftentimes inspirational depiction of a genuinely remarkable individual. Many documentaries are just that, and Walshe and Utz never really set their sights at anything beyond this. Whereas many films might falter from such a status quo approach, Prime Minister plays so well within its own comfort zone, resulting in a compelling documentary for the masses.
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
In the vein of Uncut Gems, and with Josh Safdie as a producer, the tension is simply piercing in Mary Bronstein’s unflinching tale of motherhood. Crafted with pulsating anxiety, If I had Legs I’d Kick You is a behemoth exercise in dramatic storytelling. Rose Byrne has never been better, delivering a powerhouse performance that I doubt few will be able to top this year.
Byrne plays Linda, a dedicated mother who is tasked with raising a young daughter with an undefined eating disorder. Her husband seems perpetually absent, while her therapist (Conan O’Brien) is not nearly as helpful as he should be. As Linda’s life starts falling apart, and with her apartment ceiling literally falling down at the start of the film, she ends up staying at a local motel and meets a number of strange characters. Danielle Macdonald and A$AP Rocky also make appearances in supporting roles.
While much of the film’s dramatic tension is created through Byrne’s charged performance, there’s also inherent tension in her day-to-day stresses of being a mother. Bronstein draws on these stresses to further capitulate on the film’s boiling tension and forcefully increases the temperature with each passing scene. And when there’s room to breath, in these brief moments of pause, the story forays into territories of abstract contemplation. If I had Legs I’d Kick You simply never stops being an engaging piece of filmmaking and is remarkable in its execution.
Relying quite heavily on claustrophobic close-up framing, Bronstein also creates tight spaces that are primarily centered around Byrne’s searing facial expressions. The narrative essentially progresses through her eyes, creating a space that truly channels Linda’s chaotic inner dialogue. This is easily a career-best performance for Byrne, who flexes her dramatic talents, all while maintaining her naturally comedic tendencies. O’Brien’s portrayal of a workplace colleague and therapist is also quite pointed and dark, which comes in stark contrast to his usual onscreen persona.
In many ways, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You tries hard to ground itself in reality and is often quite literal (and tongue-in-cheek) with its thematic prose. Whether it’s the ceiling collapsing in Linda’s apartment or her ongoing struggles of providing artificial nourishment to her daughter, the film is a brooding examination of maternal instincts and all the challenges that come with it. Bronstein draws on reality to depict feelings of crippling anxiety through creative filmmaking choices, and encapsulates a visceral depiction of modern day motherhood. It’s one of the most impressive films playing at the festival this year.
Prime Minister and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Click here for more of Film Inquiry’s Sundance coverage.
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