TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM

Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am offers an artful and intimate meditation on the life and works of the legendary storytelling and Nobel prize-winner. From her childhood in the steel town of Lorain, Ohio to ‘70s-era book tours with Muhammad Ali, from the front lines with Angela Davis to her own riverfront writing too, Toni Morrison leads an assembly of her peers, critics and colleagues on an exploration of race, America, history and the human condition as seen through the prism of her own literature. Inspired to write because no one took a “little black girl” seriously, Morrison reflects on her lifelong deconstruction of the master narrative. Woven together with a rich collection of art, history, literatures and personality, the film includes discussions about her many critically acclaimed works including novels “ The Bluest Eye”, “Sula” and “Song of Solomon”, her role as an editor of the iconic African-American literature and her time teaching at Princeton University. 

In addition to Ms. Morrison, the film features interviews with Hilton Als, Angela Davis, Fran Lebowitz, Walter Mosley, Sonia Sanchez and Oprah Winfrey, who turned Morrison’s novel “Beloved” into a feature film. Using Timothy Greenfield-Sanders’ elegant portrait-style interviews, Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am includes original music by Kathryn Bostic, a specially created opening sequence by artist Mickalene Thomas, and evocative works by other contemporary African-American artists including Kara Walker, Rashid Johnson and Kerry James Marshall. 

Join Oscar-winning producer and Director-at-Large of Birds’ Eye View Mia Bays and special guests Poet – Degna Stone /  Author, Dr Laura Fish / Dr Jennifer Terry who, following the film, will be reading their favourite passages from Morrison’s famed writings.