Recently, my son and I saw the film “Melania” — and loved every minute of it. It was mesmerizing to observe the meticulous attention to detail the First Lady showed in day-to-day business and in preparing for the 2025 Inauguration. The beauty and elegance of the selected outfits, the exquisitely planned candle-lit dinners, and the sophisticated ambiance of the iconic buildings featured in the movie were nothing short of aristocratic. They brought to mind the Kennedys’ Camelot Era, with a powerful new promise of an American Golden Age.
What I found even more fascinating, however, was the First Lady’s humanity, composure, and kindness in treating everyone she interacted with. She is clearly loved and admired by her staff. Whether trying on a dress with her designer and seamstress or singing along to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” with her chauffeur, the mutual affection and respect were genuine.
It was intriguing to watch Melania’s video call with Brigitte Macron on the topic of protecting children from harmful online exposure. One of the most moving parts of the film was the visit by Aviva, an Israeli hostage taken on October 7, 2023, who was in agony over the fate of her husband, Keith, also kidnapped by Hamas but not yet returned. Thanks to diplomatic efforts with Melania’s help, the husband and wife were finally reunited after their harrowing captivity.
The film also resonated with me on a profoundly personal level. Aristotle was among the first thinkers to emphasize the cathartic effect of drama on the audience. Evoking empathy is a clear sign of a film’s success. I could not help but empathize with Melania’s life story. I happen to be of a similar age, born and raised in Southeast Europe, married to an amazing American man, with a comparable age difference and a young son to be proud of. I was moved to tears by Melania’s grief for her mother and involuntarily reminisced about my own mom’s passing. The First Lady’s visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and the spontaneous benediction the priest offered were among the most poignant and solemn moments in the film.
Unsurprisingly, the movie received skyrocketing ratings but unfavorable reviews from critics. The American people, especially salt-of-the-Earth common-sense individuals, are bound to love the film, while many critics happen to be intellectual snobs with a strong leftist bias, whose opinion reflects their political views even if cleverly disguised. Theodore Roosevelt famously said in “The Man in the Arena”: “It is not the critic who counts.”
The Melania movie is a must-see — it is a visual feast of beauty, sophistication, and kindness.
Nora D. Clinton is a Research Scholar at the Legal Insurrection Foundation. She was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria. She holds a PhD in Classics and has published extensively on ancient documents on stone. In 2020, she authored the popular memoir Quarantine Reflections Across Two Worlds. Nora is a co-founder of two partner charities dedicated to academic cooperation and American values. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and son.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY