What a man. What a heart. What a history.
Sidney Poitier was THE FIRST black man to explore many new grounds that no black man had walked before him. THAT simple fact catapulted Poitier into the spotlight of millions of black and white people during the sixties.
This exquisitedly made documentary (produced by long time friend and admirer Oprah Winfrey) focusses primarily on the roaring sixties, when alongside the rise of the civil movement his star rose to great heights on the silver screen.
The one thing that was most astounding to me though, was the story of his early childhood. He grew up without knowing what electricity or running water was. Without ever having seen a mirror. Coming to America was a tsunami of impressions, which forever molded his beliefs and goals in life. And he did all that in honor of his mother and father.
This is not some sentimental tearjerker story, no way, the guy really (and I mean really) HONORED his mother and father. As the youngest of the family he watched every move his parents made and how they interacted with others. His parents were his filmschool for life...
Highly recommended for any Sidney Poitier fan!
It is a nonstop, goosebump ride through the history of America and Sidney Poitier was the ever gentleman like and benevolent messenger, who all showed us what dignity and respect was. Besides being a marvellous actor!
