Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am

Thursday, May 23, 2019

TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM offers an artful and intimate meditation on the life and works of the acclaimed novelist. From her childhood in the steel town of Lorain, Ohio to ‘70s-era book tours with Muhammed Ali, from the front lines with Angela Davis to her own riverfront writing room, Toni Morrison leads an assembly of her peers, critics and colleagues on an exploration of race, America, history and the human condition as seen through the prism of her own literature. Inspired to write because no one took a “little black girl” seriously, Morrison reflects on her lifelong deconstruction of the master narrative.

Woven together with a rich collection of art, history, literature and personality, the film includes discussions about her many critically acclaimed works, including novels The Bluest Eye, Sula and Song of Solomon, her role as an editor of iconic African-American literature and her time teaching at Princeton University.

Screening as part of the Spring 2019 season of Pure Nonfiction. A Season Pass, good for all Spring 2019 films (Apr 9 – May 28) is available for $110 for general admission, and $90 for IFC Center Members, here.


  • Country USA
  • Running Time 120 minutes
  • Distributor Powershausen
  • Director Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
  • Editor Johanna Giebelhaus
  • Cinematographer Graham Willoughby
  • Cast Toni Morrison, Hilton Als, Oprah Winfrey, Russell Banks, Angela Davis, Fran Lebowitz, Peter Sellars, Walter Mosley, Robert Gottlieb

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.