An emotional portrait, a social critique and a passionate and eloquent plea for human equality, this documentary tells James Baldwin's story in his own words. Using interviews from many of Baldwin's close friends, colleagues and critics, Karen Thorsen has created one of the finest portraits of a creative artist ever made. Appearing in the film are Baldwin's brother David, his biographer David Leemings, writers Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, William Styron, Ishmael Reed and Yashar Kernal, painter Lucian Happersberger, and entertainer Bobby Short.

James Baldwin (1924-1987), internationally acclaimed author of Go Tell It On The Mountain, Giovanni's Room, and Another Country, helped shape black American fiction, giving it a unique and beautiful voice. A teacher, preacher and prophet, the gifted Baldwin wrote and spoke about injustices and ignorance, yet always believed ". . . all men are brothers".

A note from the director
Somewhere back in post-production, one of our editors said, "I've only been on this project two weeks, and already James Baldwin has changed my life".

He certainly changed mine. After years as a so-called idealist, after years as a writer on the fringes of film, I met Jimmy and everything meshed. Suddenly I had the courage to take the next step, I had the focus, the passion, the determination.

Here was someone lucid, honest, constant; saying the things we felt, but never really said. Here was someone who lived what he believed, someone tough-minded enough to say not that the world would change, but that it could change - if we'd just make the effort.

And he was real, he was human! Excessive, exuberant, frustrated, torn - but he also had the guts to insist that we are brothers, that love is not an indulgence, it's an imperative.

Even better, he not only wrote it, but he said it on camera all over the world - and gave us a hello of a movie!
- Karen Thorsen