2023 AIFF Doc Showcase: Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project
(NR), 1 hr. 36 min.
Synopsis
In the opening scene, as archival footage of the poet as a child flash onscreen, poet Giovanni shows her cards: "I don't remember a lot of things. I remember what is important and I make up the rest. That's what storytelling is all about." Directors Brewster and Stephenson spent seven years working on this impressionistic project and their dedication and efforts show. This Grand Jury Prize winner at Sundance is a rare documentary that encompasses the poet's blazing personality, her unwavering confidence, and her commitment to community without ever sacrificing herself. Using interviews, archival speeches she gave to her students, and snippets of conversation with her partner and her granddaughter, we experience her life from the Civil Rights Movement to Black Lives Matter.
Rating Description
NR