Sundance 2023: ‘Little Richard: I Am Everything’ directed by Lisa Cortés

U.S. Documentary Competition

Born in Macon, Georgia in 1937, Richard Wayne Penniman stood up loud and clear for who he was and what he deserved. The history of the Black queer origins of rock ’n’ roll, beginning with Sister Rosetta Tharpe, clearly the mother of rock ’n’ roll who gave Little Richard his first break when he was 14, may have been obliterated but for Little Richard’s vociferous objection to such an event.

But before acknowledging Little Richard’s vast contribution to rock ‘n’ roll, we should also give credit to the Indigenous Americans as depicted in the 2017 documentary by Catherine Bainbridge called Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked The World. Without acknowledging their contribution we would be guilty of doing what this documentary stives to correct, that is the obliteration of the black queer origins of the genre. The genre’s musicological roots lie as much in the beat of the Native American drums as in brazenly displayed performances which electrified White audiences and got them onto their feet.

Little Richard, courtesy of Sundance Institute

Little Richard: I Am Everything takes us on a ride through the complex evolution of a man of many qualities, from generosity to bragadoccio, from flamboyantly queer and hyper sexualized to extremely and conservatively religious. All facets were true and he was true to them. The testimonials from legendary musicians and cultural figures, Black and queer scholars, Little Richard’s family and friends, and interviews with the artist himself are insightful and interesting. The treasure trove of rarely seen archival footage of Penniman and of Black southern life lift this documentary beyond his performances and talking heads. Among the gems are scenes with his Black and queer predecessors and his own mother and other women, depictions of household and field chores and churches. Cortés exuberantly reclaims a history that was appropriated by white artists and institutions.

Director Lisa Cortés. Courtesy of Sundance Institute, photo by Paul Morejon

Also the producer of Invisible Beauty which is also at Sundance this year,director Lisa Cortés has just entered into a first-look development agreement with the Museum of the City of New York, where she will create documentaries based on the museum’s exhibitions. She plans for projects on food, social justice, music, and more. The first being made under the deal is a docuseries based on Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off, an exhibition inviting bakers from every borough to design New York City-inspired gingerbread creations.