Last weekend, the White House became the epicenter of glamour and power as it hosted a screening of “MELANIA,” attracting a dazzling array of Hollywood stars, political figures, and tech giants. It was an event reminiscent of a royal gathering, complete with queens, princesses, and corporate titans. As one of the fortunate attendees, I couldn’t help but feel like the character from “Almost Famous,” unexpectedly seated among the elite.
Just two years ago, I was creating TikTok videos from my humble East Village apartment. Fast forward to the present, and here I was, in the opulent Red Room of the White House, savoring a ‘MELANIA’ biscuit and trying my best to avoid leaving a trail of crumbs.
“MELANIA” is far from an average documentary. This cinematic masterpiece, acquired by Amazon MGM Studios for a staggering $40 million, showcases the grand vision of director Brett Ratner, known for his work on the “Rush Hour” series. The film is a lavish spectacle from start to finish, overflowing with opulence and grandeur.
The story begins with a breathtaking drone shot capturing the mesmerizing turquoise waters surrounding Mar-a-Lago, often dubbed the ‘winter White House’ in Florida. The camera glides over the waves, ultimately arriving at the magnificent resort on New Year’s Day, 2025. We witness Melania Trump as she steps into her motorcade, destined for Palm Beach airport.
The scene is reminiscent of a “Charlie’s Angels” moment, with Melania exuding elegance and mystery behind her signature dark sunglasses. She is on her way to New York, racing against the clock with just 20 days remaining until her husband’s historic second inauguration.
It feels like a scene out of Charlie’s Angels. She’s beautiful and poised behind those trademark dark shades. She’s en route to New York and the clock is ticking to her husband’s historic second Inauguration in just 20 days.
This is the rather breathless and breath-taking start of a mad dash to get everything ready for her family’s return to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
From Trump Tower in Manhattan, she goes from meeting to meeting, hiring staff, picking out furniture for the White House, in which, we learn, her father Viktor Knavs has a room. Mrs Trump and famed interior designer Tham Kannalikham hammer out the details.
Two years ago I was making TikToks in my East Village apartment. Now I’m in the Red Room, eating a ‘MELANIA’ biscuit, doing my best not to leave any crumbs
An enigmatic figure, Mrs Trump pulls back the curtain and brings us along as she moves through her days. Here is a First Lady engaged in every detail, right down to the coupes the First Family will drink out of – these are decisions that must be made.
The film’s soundtrack provides a fascinating insight – a pulsing playlist of 80s hits: Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, Spandau Ballet’s True and Tears for Fears’ Everybody Wants to Rule the World. I wanted to get up and dance during the screening, but the agents with earpieces lining the walls of the East Room gave me pause.
In one scene, Melania breaks into song – a rendition of Billie Jean from inside her motorcade. Yes, she’s just like us; she sings in the car and can’t resist the rhythm of a good Jackson hit.
There are some big-name cameos, too. First Lady of France, Brigitte Macron speaks with Mrs Trump about protecting children on social media.
Queen Rania of Jordan is seen at Mar-a-Lago meeting with the First Lady to discuss their respective and, again, children-focused initiatives.
But the heart and the soul of the film were the unsung heroes whose names aren’t often in lights.
Herve Pierre, the First Lady’s longtime designer and friend, features prominently and offers comedic relief that had me in stitches. We see the creation of her Inauguration Ball gown, designed by Pierre and translated from sketch to reality.
American fashion designer, Adam Lippes, is also there, creating Melania’s daytime outfit.
Who could forget that Navy-blue coat and wide-brimmed hat, which served as an armor of sorts for her return to Washington?
Melania is meticulous. As a former model, she tailors and tweaks until each outfit is just right. Only she will write her legacy. She can’t afford to delegate responsibilities, no matter how big or small. She’s at the helm.
What may surprise audiences the most? The movie itself is surprisingly apolitical.
Its most poignant moments are those in which Melania discusses losing her mother, Amalija. Grief is universal, and in these scenes Melania is not just a First Lady, but rather one of us grappling with loss and the waves of emotions that swell like the turquoise shores upon which we opened the film.
An enigmatic figure, Mrs Trump pulls back the curtain and brings us along as she moves through her days
Melania is meticulous. As a former model, she tailors and tweaks until each outfit is just right. Only she will write her legacy
Grief is universal, and in these scenes Melania is not just a First Lady, but rather one of us grappling with loss and the waves of emotions that swell like the turquoise shores upon which we opened the film
We follow the First Lady to St Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue to light a candle on January 9 last year, the first anniversary of her mother’s death.
This also happens to be the day she and President Trump attend President Jimmy Carter’s funeral. You can feel the duality of the weight she bears – her outward strength and obligations as a public figure, and a very real personal pain.
She begins the day at Carter’s funeral and ends it at the Cathedral, lighting that candle to honor her late mother.
Throughout MELANIA, there’s also a sense of how insulated the world becomes when you reach the apex of power. Mrs Trump moves from private residence to motorcade to plane to parking garage to private residence in an unending loop.
She turns to Sean Curran, the Director of the Secret Service, to ask if the inaugural parade will be secure. She’s cautious about getting out of the presidential motorcade to wave to the crowd, expected to number one million people.
‘Is it safe?’ she asks aloud. Curran assures her it will be.
After two assassination attempts on her husband’s life, who could question the validity of Melania’s fierce protection?
She is questioning not her own safety but that of her husband and her son, Barron.
This is Melania the matriarch, the mama bear who will stop at nothing to protect her family.
She is polite but she is firm, the epitome of soft power. I would not want to cross Mrs Trump.
At one point we see her listening as her husband rehearses his inauguration speech.
‘My proudest legacy will be that of peacemaker,’ he says. ‘Peacemaker – and unifier,’ Melania corrects.
It is hard to escape that we are watching Melania set down a legacy of her own – after years of mistruths and having her story filtered through partisan media lenses.
And whatever you think of her, this is a story of a woman who embodies the American dream. She came to the United States and climbed the highest mountain.
By the time the credits roll with the list of her Year One accomplishments, you can’t ignore this is a First Lady who is just getting started – this is the beginning of the Age of Melania.
