Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project

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Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project

2023

1h 36m

Documentary

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

GOING TO MARS: THE NIKKI GIOVANNI PROJECT travels through time and space to reveal the enduring influence of Nikki Giovanni, one of America's greatest living artists and social commentators. Giovanni reckons with the inevitable passing of time in intimate vérité and revealing archival footage. The film is a collision of memories, moments in American history, live readings, and visually innovative treatments of her poetry.

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Critics Consensus

Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project takes a suitably inventive -- and very enjoyable -- approach to documenting a brilliant artist's life and times.

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

Mar 20, 2025

4/5

Her poems, read by Giovanni herself and the actor Taraji P Henson, made the hairs on the back of my neck prickle.

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Carmen Phillips

Autostraddle

Jan 17, 2024

Here are two Black queer icons, both standing at the precipice of life’s intersections... They may spar with their intellect might, but they also take boundless care of each other. The resulting dance is breathtaking.

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Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (LAist)

Nov 29, 2023

Nikki Giovanni is so cool... Just being in her presence is more than enough.

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Rosalie Kicks

MovieJawn

Jun 19, 2024

2.75/4

What makes this special is the subject, Nikki Giovanni. The filmmakers weave a beautiful portrait of an inspiration. Its impossible to not be inspired by this amazing woman.

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Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

Jan 17, 2024

B

Nikki comes across as someone who does not compromise when it comes to her principles. This gets her in trouble with both conservatives and liberals. Nikki is a woman who speaks her mind, and she doesn't give a damn what anyone thinks of her.

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Abby Olcese

Paste Magazine

Jan 12, 2024

7/10

Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project does an admirable job capturing the aesthetic of Nikki Giovanni’s life and poetry. It offers... glimpses into her ongoing evolution as an artist. Unfortunately, those glimpses don’t offer enough to be memorable.

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Melissa B

@RT49940901 Apr 25, 2024

Really beautiful storytelling here. Nikki Giovanni is such an important artist.

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Jan 13, 2024

There is so much depth and hope to this film. I am going to watch it again.

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Joe Brewster

Director

Michele Stephenson

Director

Nikki Giovanni

Self

Taraji P. Henson

Voice

Joe Brewster

Writer

Michele Stephenson

Writer

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Synopsis

GOING TO MARS: THE NIKKI GIOVANNI PROJECT travels through time and space to reveal the enduring influence of Nikki Giovanni, one of America's greatest living artists and social commentators. Giovanni reckons with the inevitable passing of time in intimate vérité and revealing archival footage. The film is a collision of memories, moments in American history, live readings, and visually innovative treatments of her poetry.

Director: Joe Brewster, Michele Stephenson
Producer: Joe Brewster, Michele Stephenson, Tommy Oliver
Screenwriter: Joe Brewster, Michele Stephenson
Distributor: HBO Documentary Films
Production Co: Rada Studio, Confluential Films, Bertha Doc Society Journalism Fund, Ford Foundation - Just Films
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 3, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 8, 2024
Runtime: 1h 36m

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