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Appearing live from the White House in a gleaming silver gown over video feed directly to the star-studded halls of Hollywood’s Dolby Theater, First Lady Michelle Obama addressed the audience before announcing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science’s choice for Best Film of 2013.
“I am so honored to help introduce this year’s nominees for best picture and to help celebrate the movies that lift our spirits, broaden our minds and transport us to places we have never imagined,” Obama said.
“These nine movies took us back in time and all around the world they made us laugh, they made us weep and they made us grip our armrests just a little tighter,” she continued. “They taught us that love can endure against all odds and transform our lives in the most surprising ways, and they reminded us that we can overcome any obstacle if we dig deep enough and fight hard enough and find the courage to believe in ourselves.”
“These lessons apply to all of us no matter who we are or what we look like or where we come from or who we love, but they are especially important for our young people, every day through engagement in the arts, our children learn to open their imaginations to dream just a little bigger and to strive every day to reach those dreams.”
Obama’s communications director, Kristina Schake explained that it was the Academy that approached Michelle about her participation in this year’s Awards extravaganza.
“As a movie lover, she was honored to present the award and celebrate the artists who inspire us all — especially our young people — with their passion, skill and imagination,” Schake said.
Considering that the winner, Argo, is a suspense thriller about the botched rescue of hostages from Iran based on an all-too-true story, it is a strange juxtaposition that the First Lady announced the honor.
