Stars of 'Southside With You' on Playing Barack and Michelle Obama in New Film
The couple's love story, "Southside With You," opens nationwide Friday.
— -- Actors Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers are portraying the love story of President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama in their new film, "Southside With You."
Inspired by the couple’s first date, "Southside With You" recounts the eventful summer day in 1989 when a charming young law associate named Barack Obama (Sawyers) tried wooing reluctant attorney Michelle Robinson (Sumpter) during a daylong date that takes them from an art exhibit to a screening of Spike Lee's “Do the Right Thing” and, later, a sweet first kiss outside a Chicago Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop.
Sumpter, who's about to give birth to a little girl, said this film was a gift to her daughter.
"Because I got to play such a strong, independent complex woman who was actually the prize in the movie and a lot of the times in these movies, women are chasing after men and Barack had to win me over," she said.
Sawyers, who plays the commander in chief, said the director wanted him to bring more of himself and less of Obama into the role.
"I started off as a full-on impersonation," Sawyers said, laughing. "He's a 28-year-old who is just trying to get a girl."
Surprisingly, Sumpter said she and Sawyers are more excited than nervous for the Obamas to see their movie.
"We're super proud of the work we did," Sumpter said. "We really prepared and we worked really hard on this movie and it's a love story, it's a date movie and I think they'll enjoy it. I hope they'll enjoy it."
Both Sumpter, 36, and Sawyers said they hope viewers leave with a smile on their faces after seeing the film.
"And there's so many themes throughout," Sumpter said. "It's about forgiveness, it's about change, it's about seeing yourself through somebody else's eyes. But, ultimately, it's a good date movie so men can take notes and I think they'll enjoy it."
"Southside With You" opens nationwide on Friday.
