Teacher, editor, author, single parent – Toni Morrison filled many roles throughout her 88-year life. Although her race and her gender meant that her success was almost always precluded with “black female”, Morrison did not treat the phrase as a qualifier or pejorative restrictor, but embraced it as the essence of who she was and what her writing gave to the world. In this two-hour documentary, we’re given an intimate portrait of the woman and her work.

The film opens on a neat stop-motion sequence of Morrison’s face being deconstructed, covered up and reassembled through the years as she blossoms from a determined young aspiring teacher into the confident and accomplished Nobel laureate she was at the time of her death. We then meet the woman herself, a larger-than-life personality who’s quick of wit and even quicker to laugh, even when discussing the normalised prejudices she faced every single day of her life. It creates the impression of a warm and instantly likeable character who fought for her rights and her dues, but never without remembering that laughter will always trump tears or hatred.

Fortunately, we’re gifted ample screentime with Morrison and she is undoubtedly the star of the show, every scene imbued with a familiarity and a playful mischievousness that is simply delightful to watch. Supplementing her monologues are plenty of others from an array of talking heads from the circles in which she moved; authors, critics and journalists give their views, as well as activists, actors and personalities like Oprah Winfrey. Each share their own unique experiences of Morrison, helping to create a fuller picture of her character.

Of course, her works are given extensive discussion, as well, progressing from The Bluest Eye and Sula through to Song of Solomon and Beloved. It’s interesting to hear how these successful novels have touched individuals from all kinds of diverse backgrounds and inspiring to learn how Morrison used her own experiences to rise to the pinnacle of her industry, meaning both readers and writers alike will find the film an enjoyable watch.

One minor criticism could be the almost complete lack of conflict in the narrative. Regarding her character itself, we’re not even given a sniff of a blemish, meaning the film verges on the hagiographic (her broken marriage is entirely omitted, for example), but it really does seem that Morrison was just an all-round lovely person and a supremely talented writer. Witnessing the pieces that she was come together on the silver screen is enough to make anyone want to pick up her works – or, alternatively, perhaps pick up the pen themselves.