Movie

Romare Bearden: A Life in Collage

2026 · 84 min

An inspiring, thoughtful portrait that celebrates creativity and resilience, leaving you uplifted and reflective.

Directed by: Deborah Riley Draper
Genres: Documentary
Starring: Romare Bearden, Denzel Washington, Usher

Overview: An athlete, artist, and activist, Romare Bearden defied boundaries placed on Black men of his generation. He partied with James Baldwin in Paris, composed hit songs, and channeled his memories into powerful collages celebrating Black life that changed contemporary art. He challenged social injustice and broke down barriers in art, culminating in a vibrant artistic legacy that inspires and empowers artists, dancers, and musicians.

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In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.

Directed by: Deborah Riley Draper
Genres: Documentary
Starring: Romare Bearden, Denzel Washington, Usher

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How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone: upliftingstrength 2 of 3
earneststrength 2 of 3
warmstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: art
race
identity
justice
memory
Places: big city
Era: contemporary
Audience: adult
Form: documentary
true story
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence none
Sex none

All scales, 0 to 10

Scales, 0 to 10
Scale	Value	0 to 10
Action	1
Horror	0
Humour	3
Realism	9
Romance	1
Tension	2
Darkness	2
Complexity	4
Emotional weight	6

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Where to watch in the UK

No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details

Genres: documentary
Directed by: Deborah Riley Draper
Written by: Deborah Riley Draper
Starring: Romare Bearden, Denzel Washington, Usher, Grant Hill, Mary Schmidt Campbell, Elizabeth Alexander
Runtime: 84 min
Country: United States of America
Languages: English

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Romare Bearden: A Life in Collage

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