Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

Maya Angelou is one of the most important figures in twentieth century American literature and of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. In the new documentary Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise we get one of the most complete pictures of her life yet to be told in cinema. This film if nothing else measures up to be the definitive cinematic text on Angelou. Also it has been on of the highlights here at deadCenter.

The format for the film is a fairly standard compilation of interviews with Angelou, archival footage, and interviews from her friends, family, and colleagues. The real strength of the film is the personal anecdotes related by those who knew Angelou best. I will be the first to confess that the films greatest power is its emotional resonance, which left me misty-eyed more than once. Though I must confess that the sheer length of the film at two hours felt a bit long.

This is in part due to the exhaustive, comprehensive scope of the film. It truly is a cradle to the grave story that though clearly a celebration of Maya Angelou, manages to avoid becoming hagiographic. The film makes its conclusion rather quickly moving from her poem at Bill Clinton’s presidential inauguration to her death, but the ground covered to get there make it forgiveable.

The most moving moments of the film are stories told by Maya Angelou’s son, Guy Johnson. He is a man who reminds me deeply of several older men I have known who likely were fairly stoic, hard men when they were young who have suddenly and strongly found a connection with their emotional life. Johnson tells stories full of joy, sadness and anger, yet remains fully likeable, charismatic and visually compelling. Overall the emotion in conveys in all those stories is one of a deep and abiding love for his mother.

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise is a fascinating account of a rich life life lived well. Last year’s Netflix documentary, What Happened, Miss Simone? would make an excellent companion piece.