Documentary “Melania: Twenty Days to History” Falls Short Despite Unprecedented Access

In what could have been a defining historical document, “Melania: Twenty Days to History” instead delivers a glossy but hollow portrait of the former first lady. The documentary, which chronicles the three weeks leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, opens with cinematic flair – drone footage sweeping over Mar-a-Lago’s white beaches and terracotta roofs while the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” plays dramatically in the background.

Despite tens of millions in production funding from Amazon MGM Studios and unprecedented access to one of America’s most enigmatic political figures, director Brett Ratner squanders the opportunity to deliver meaningful insights into Melania Trump’s character or her role in American history.

The film, shot by a team of celebrated cinematographers including Barry Peterson (“Zoolander”), Dante Spinotti (Michael Mann’s longtime collaborator), and Jeff Cronenweth (David Fincher’s frequent director of photography), offers stunning visuals but little substance beneath its polished surface.

Rather than structured interviews that might reveal Melania’s perspectives, most information comes through scripted voiceovers delivered by the former first lady herself. The result feels more like an expensive promotional video than a documentary, with Ratner seemingly more star-struck by his proximity to power than interested in examining it critically.

In one revealing moment, Ratner, alone with the first couple in the White House following the inauguration, can only muster: “I can’t believe we’re in the White House right now” – a comment that apparently bored even the president, who promptly excused himself to bed.

The film meticulously documents Melania’s preparation activities – selecting outfits, reviewing invitation designs, consulting on party menus featuring caviar-topped golden eggs – but fails to penetrate beyond these surface-level details. Even potentially poignant moments, like Melania marking the one-year anniversary of her mother’s passing, receive superficial treatment.

When the documentary does capture interactions between the first couple, they’re surprisingly mundane. In one phone call, President Trump simply drones about the 2024 election certification, repeating phrases like “landslide” and “big win.” The closest thing to genuine tension comes on inauguration morning with an apparent issue involving Melania’s headpiece, though the fragmented editing makes the exact problem difficult to discern.

The film briefly touches on Melania’s immigrant background when she reflects, “No matter where we come from, we are bound by the same humanity,” but this potentially meaningful moment passes without deeper exploration or context.

Amazon has ambitious distribution plans for the documentary, scheduling screenings in 3,300 theaters worldwide. However, the timing of its release appears particularly tone-deaf, coinciding with controversial immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis that have resulted in violent confrontations and reported fatalities. The juxtaposition of Melania selecting fabric swatches while such events unfold creates a jarring disconnect for viewers.

Early attendance figures suggest limited public enthusiasm. At an opening day screening in New York City, the theater was barely a quarter full, populated almost entirely by journalists. The few non-media attendees included two single men, one of whom departed midway through the 104-minute runtime.

Despite its blockbuster production values, “Melania: Twenty Days to History” ultimately feels like a missed opportunity – a documentary that had unprecedented access to document history but instead chose to create mythology, offering little genuine insight into either its subject or the significant historical moment it purports to chronicle.