When bestowing the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom on him in 2009, former President of the United States Barack Obama famously quipped that Sidney Poitier “didn’t make movies, he made milestones”, and this is immense praise coming from any public figure, let alone from one of the most powerful individuals of the few decades, and someone whose own journey was defined by his status as a pioneer. Yet, who are we to argue with this sentiment when it is so sincerely true, and perhaps the most perfect description for the life and career of one of cinema’s greatest artists? It’s not a surprise this moment comes towards the end of Sidney, the achingly beautiful tribute to the late actor, who died exactly one year ago today, which gathers together various individuals to speak about the life and legacy of a truly extraordinary individual, since it conveys exactly what was most remembered about Poitier and his work, on both sides of the camera. The documentary is helmed by Reginald Hudlin, and spearheaded by Oprah Winfrey, who played an active role in bringing this film to life in tribute to the man she considered both a friend and mentor, and the reason behind her success, both in their direct interactions and because of his work that allowed for people like Winfrey to have a place at the table. This film is a beautiful and evocative tribute to one of the most influential artists to ever work in the industry, someone who prided himself not only on his chosen vocation as an actor and director, but used his voice to elevate those who needed it the most, with his long career of activism and diplomacy not being elided from this narrative at all, instead becoming foundational to the quiet and poetic examination of his life, handcrafted by a pair of people who clearly adored him beyond any doubt, and who spend each minute of these two hours celebrating his legacy, while giving us unseen insights into his life, which was far more fascinating than any of us could have ever imagined, even those who are as enamoured with his remarkable career as one could possibly be – and this is all indicative of the brilliance that permeates this wonderful film.

The combination of the iconic subject and the people behind the creation of the film allowed for quite an impressive assemblage of participants in the production. There are multiple actors, directors and other notable figures who appear throughout Sidney, offering their insights and recollections of the esteemed actor, whether their personal relationship with him, or simply relaying the impact he had on their lives – when the likes of Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman agree to not only appear in your documentary, but do so in a way that celebrates the actor that inspired them, it is clear that the subject matter is one that is special to some of the very best in the craft. There was simply no one like Sidney Poitier, and this film makes sure that there isn’t a moment where we aren’t being reminded of this – testimonies from some of his colleagues and friends (some in archival footage, as many have unfortunately passed on over the years), contrasted with the glowing admiration of people like Spike Lee and Quincy Jones, who were only able to master their craft as a result of the work Poitier did in carrying the burden of representing the African-American community at a time when his life was actually threatened, makes for a powerful and complex portrait of a man who was admired by so many. Hearing Poitier talk, whether in this film or in any of his writings or interviews from the past, it is clear that his genuine belief is that a true measure of a man is not the work he does, but rather the people he impacts along the way – and as we can see from the exceptional group that gathered with Hudlin and his cohorts to explain their own personal and professional journey with the actor, it’s clear that he succeeded wholeheartedly. He was a titan of the industry, and Sidney doesn’t waste a moment making it extremely clear what it is intending to do, celebrating Poitier not only through the films he made, but rather through the people that were influenced by the work he did, which has remained timeless and iconic in a way that few careers could ever hope to achieve.

However, Sidney is not one of those cheaply-made entertainment documentaries that cobble together a few moments in an actor’s life, insert a couple of interviews and clips from their films, and claim to be a definitive biography of their work. Poitier was a complex man, and while most of us know him solely as an actor and a director, he was a fully-formed individual that led a life beyond that of what we saw on screen – this is what makes this film so captivating, because any of us can watch his films on our own and witness his incredible acting talents, but it becomes something entirely more complex when we understand the circumstances around their creation – he may splendour in the striking beauty of Paris Blues, especially his chemistry with the incredible Diahann Carroll, but we can’t see his first wife recount her discovery of her husband’s affair with the actress, the camera lingering on Juanita Hardy’s face for a beat longer than usual, creating an emotionally crushing moment, one of many populate this film in an effort to show that Poitier may have been described as a master of his craft and one of the most beautiful and soulful individuals to ever live, but he was still a deeply flawed man. Hudlin is navigating such a narrow set of boundaries with this approach – he wants to create a three-dimensional, honest portrait of Poitier, but he also refuses to diminish his contributions or create a scenario where we begin to antagonize him for the mistakes he made. The only way around this was to take the path that doesn’t comment on his shortcomings, but rather presents them objectively, as well as contrasting them with his later actions that showed some sense of atonement. Poitier prided himself on his honesty and willingness to stay true to himself, and the film is very much aware of this fact, showing it in vivid detail, often relying on the actor’s own commentary, which serves as intimate reflections into his life and experiences over the years, which are both thrilling and thought-provoking, and give the film the gravitas it required to explore certain themes.

Essentially, a film about Sidney Poitier is a film about America – part of his immense legacy is how he occurred at a crucial time in the nation’s history. He was one of the first black actors to become a marquee name, and played a vital role in the Civil Rights Movement, as well as a range of other worldwide issues that he dedicated his time to representing. He was a representative of a generation of people when they needed it the most – he marched alongside Martin Luther King, worked as an ambassador for the United States, and had regular rendezvous with notable world leaders, embracing them with the same warmth and charismatic intelligence that he brought to meetings with any other individual. For every major event that occurred in the United States in the latter half of the 20th century, it is very likely that Poitier became involved, whether it was political movements, social discourse or cultural criticism – he was as much an activist as he was an actor, and learning of his background, moving from a penniless street urchin that worked a series of short-term jobs for the most meagre wages possible, to perhaps the most revered actor of his generation, is inspiring and shows the American Dream in its most honest work, where hard work and tenacity are extremely important, even if some may attribute their success to pure luck, which also factored into Poitier’s narrative in a small but significant way. Poitier didn’t only take advantage of the shifting mentalities that surrounded race at the time, he helped pioneer it, opening doors that would have remained shut without the likes of him and Harry Belafonte, and the legions of other incredibly brave souls, that fought for justice and equality – and to build a truly impressing acting career at the same time only further proves his incredible tenacity and willingness to challenge himself in ways that would seem peculiar at the time, but are foundational to how we view the period that brought us these extraordinarily gifted individuals that have become bedrocks of the artistic community.

The main concept that differentiates Sidney from nearly any other documentary on an influential artist is that this was one made by those who did not only admire him, but also intrinsically understood who he was, not as an actor but as a human being. That is ultimately all Poitier wanted to be remembered for – not for the films he made or the awards or accolades he received. His greatest achievement was simply being a father and leader of his community – the only difference being that the community he assembled was formed by millions of individuals in the form of those whose lives he touched, whether through his acting or activism. His paternal warmth is only matched by his enormous generosity as an artist, and this film offers us an insightful glimpse into his life, never being afraid to peer behind the curtain and investigate his personal life, which was far from perfect and was filled with flaws and insecurities that he carefully hid from public view, but was always a work in progress, which I think Poitier would be the first to admit. This detailed examination of his career shows us a different side of an actor so many of us adore, and it only allows us to feel more assured in our passion for his work, since we see that there was a man behind that enigmatic stare and irresistible smile, someone whose strength and dedication has been an inspiration to generations, not only in the world of art, but in general. Sidney is a beautiful and heartening tribute to one of our great actors, whose life is filled with fascinating details, each one represented so wonderfully throughout this film, which is so much more than initially meets the eye, managing to take a relatively simple concept (that of paying tribute to one of the great actors of his time) and turning it into an astounding work of art in itself, which is entirely appropriate considering it follows the life of someone who believed in the power of artistic expression more than anything else, which is what makes the most substantial and meaningful difference.