Maya Angelou is a woman who triumphed against all odds: growing up in a poor neighborhood, facing life as a Black woman in a racist America, and surviving a traumatic childhood that left her unable to speak for five years. Despite these obstacles, she became a celebrated poet, a source of inspiration to millions in the U.S. and around the world, and even had the honor of reading one of her poems at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton.

Her major literary success began with the publication of her first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, in 1969. But Angelou’s life was full of many other achievements: she was a singer and dancer, a composer and director, and above all, a passionate activist for civil rights. The film brings all of this to life through archival footage spanning her lifetime, interwoven with readings and performances of her work. The result is a powerful, vivid portrait of an extraordinary woman.