Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (2019)
97%RT Audience Score: 96%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 9 nominations
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am honors its acclaimed subject with a comprehensive, illuminating, and fittingly profound overview of her life and work.
If you’re a fan of Toni Morrison, you’re gonna love “The Pieces I Am.” It’s like a big ol’ hug for your brain, giving you a comprehensive and illuminating look at the life and work of this literary legend. And let me tell you, it’s fittingly profound. You’ll come away feeling like you’ve just had a deep conversation with the woman herself. So grab some popcorn and settle in for a journey through the mind of one of the greatest writers of our time.
Production Company(ies)
Perfect Day Films,
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some disturbing images/thematic material.
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:D-Cinema 48kHz 5.1
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 59m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 21, 2019 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 27, 2019
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Toni Morrison, author, race, history, America, human condition, PG-13, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, Johanna Giebelhaus, Chad Thompson, Tommy Walker, Magnolia Pictures, box office, gross USA, $901.6K, runtime, 1h 59m, starring Toni Morrison, Oprah Winfrey, Russell Banks, Walter Mosley, Fran Lebowitz, Peter Sellars, directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, written by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, produced by Johanna Giebelhaus, Chad Thompson, Tommy Walker, reviewed by John Doyle, Wendy Ide, Tara Brady, Peter Bradshaw, David Jenkins, Bessie Yuill, Nikki Baughan, Laura Potier, Charlotte Krol, Barbara Shulgasser, Joseph Walsh, Roe McDermott
Worldwide gross: $927,495
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,071,678
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,588
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 116,868
US/Canada gross: $903,018
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,043,396
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,184
US/Canada opening weekend: $48,050
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $55,520
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,169
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Oprah Winfrey – Self
Russell Banks – Self
Walter Mosley – Self
Fran Lebowitz – Self
Peter Sellars – Self
Director(s)
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Johanna Giebelhaus, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, Chad Thompson, Tommy Walker
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 9 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (102) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (99) | Rotten (3)
The program is a must-see for any student of literature and anyone curious about her work, and the world from which she emerged.
June 23, 2020
John Doyle
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Whether you have read everything she wrote or have never ventured into her worlds, it’s likely that the first thing you’ll do when you leave the cinema is pick up one of her novels.
March 9, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Greenfield-Sanders’s film is not as structurally daring as its subject, but it makes great use of archive and text alongside its talking heads.
March 7, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
This documentary is a potent commercial for the books themselves.
March 5, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Makes you want to read the books, so full success on that front.
March 5, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
David Jenkins
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
For all the intellectual content, the most rewarding part of this documentary is the presence of Morrison herself – her infectious laugh, her famous carrot cake, her joyful love of parties.
March 4, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Bessie Yuill
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The true highlight of the film is, of course, the extended interview with the 88-year-old Morrison, which proves the narrative backbone of the film.
January 11, 2022
Nikki Baughan
AWFJ Women on Film
An essay on the continued importance and cultural significance of Toni Morrison’s work, the impact of which – the film makes clear – cannot be overstated.
August 16, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Laura Potier
Outtake Mag
[This] moving portrait of a literary icon is a timely reminder of the power of the pen…
June 22, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte Krol
NME
Docu about legendary author has some violent imagery.
July 29, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Barbara Shulgasser
Common Sense Media
A documentary that brims with love and admiration for Morrison’s work and life.
March 16, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Joseph Walsh
The Arts Desk
Overall, The Pieces I Am is a celebratory, empowering and vivacious documentary, allowing audiences to bask in the company of the woman behind the legacy.
March 13, 2020
Roe McDermott
Hot Press…
Plot
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am is a documentary that explores the life and work of acclaimed author Toni Morrison, featuring interviews with her peers, critics, and colleagues.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features interviews with Toni Morrison herself, as well as Oprah Winfrey, Russell Banks, and Fran Lebowitz.
Timothy-Greenfield-Sanders.jpg
