The Diplomat

I was expecting an ordinary biopic, in this case of a well-known figure getting praised by associates and others in his field, plus some interesting footage of this and that. An avid reader of the news, I thought I knew a lot (or enough) about Richard Holbrooke. Was I wrong! He was a larger-than-life figure with unbelievable accomplishments. His son David has made an amazingly thought-provoking film on how foreign policy is made (although this was not his intent; he set out to learn more about his father, who was, understandably, distant while travelling around the world in order to solve problems that meant life and death for many thousands of people as well as whole countries). While the film's beginning is a bit confusing, going back and forth in time, the film settles into giving us a clear perspective on selected foreign policies through the decades during which Holbrooke served this country at the highest levels. We get a strong idea of his strengths but also his all-too-human flaws. His relationships with General Petraeus, Secretary Hillary Clinton, journalist David Rohde, Presidents Clinton and Obama are illuminated and totally fascinating. David Holbrooke, the filmmaker and Richard's son, has made a powerful tribute to his dad, while giving us a mesmerizing lesson in foreign affairs.