Sundance 2023: ‘Little Richard: I Am Everything’

Director Lisa Cortés takes us on a journey celebrating the life and legacy of Little Richard. Born Richard Wayne Penniman, the film explores the life of the boisterous talent and his significance to Black culture, music culture, and queer culture. Interviews from family, friends, other musicians, and Black and queer scholars, along with archival footage of Richard himself, come together to shed light on his complex struggles with sexuality, religion, race and cultural appropriation. 

While parts of Richard’s life are widely known, especially among the Black community, this documentary takes us a little deeper into his importance to American culture. And it’s here that the story really becomes interesting. Everything, from his sound to his style, was imitated and appropriated, most of the time without any recognition. Yet still, throughout his life, Little Richard continued to find ways to make an impact. Cortés’ documentary really honors the man who blazed a trail through pop culture for those who live outside of the box and helps to solidify his place as the real king of rock ‘n’ roll.