Both the book and the film are a fictionalized account of the childhood of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, who lived in Indonesia from 1967 to 1971.

Barack "Barry" Obama (Hasan Faruq Ali) moves with his mother Ann Dunham (Cara Lachelle) and stepfather Lolo Soetoro (Radhit Syam) from Menteng to another suburb in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Barry befriends two neighborhood children, Slamet (Angga Putra) and Yuniardi, by playing ping pong.

Although his Indonesian is fluent, the other children find Barry strange ("aneh") because of his long nose, curly hair, and black skin.

As the game approaches, Barry cuts his leg on a barbed wire fence and is rushed to the local clinic, where the nurses and doctors are unwilling to treat him unless he waits in the long line for his turn.

Disgusted, she calls her father in Hawaii and tells him they will be sending Barry there, hoping to give him a better chance for success.

[6] It was shot over a period of 25 days, being "rushed" through production in order to be ready for a screening on June 17, 2010, set to coincide with President Obama's planned state visit to Indonesia.

[7][10] "This is not so much a movie about Barack Obama, but rather about a 10-year-old African-American kid who landed in Indonesia for the first time, and who was going to be confronted with racism, difference and pluralism.

[14] Viewers made note that the film was less a historical re-enactment, and more simply a story of a young boy growing up in a strange neighborhood and adapting to a new culture.

[15] The Jakarta Globe reported that Seto Mulyadi, the chairman of the National Commission for Child Protection, said "This movie could definitely be an inspiration for children in Indonesia about how amazing the power of dreams are.

"[16] Commentator Wimar Witoelar wrote that "The film doesn't show the sensitivities of his adjustment as well as Obama's book Dreams From My Father.

Many inaccuracies make the movie a rich target for those who concentrate on detail, which could have been avoided had the producers not aimed for a deadline set by President Obama's June visit, which was cancelled at the last minute.