When James Baldwin takes over the direction of the film, it's great. Everything he says is still true, but the director initially comes with a very narrow idea of what the film should be, missing the reality Baldwin is trying to share. Had the director listened to Baldwin from the beginning, or let Baldwin drive the film instead of going from a plan, it could have been more extraordinary. But kudos to the director for eventually listening (slightly) to Baldwin.

I can't stand when someone tries to be abstract and downright absurd so others can say "Woah man, so deep".

I wanted to see 1970 Paris, and hoping someone would say something with clarity, instead of the jive-talkin'.. I've downloaded a few of his books, but after seeing him fool around and just being a primadona, I have no interest in spending hours with 1/100th of the content, of things I already know and experienced myself without being a jerk.

Interesting conversations, the way Baldwin presents the issues really holds the attention and leaves me full of thoughts. Although it took me aback, the scene in Place de la Bastille leads to an essential point of the documentary: the way Baldwin felt while being filmed by a white man. It is frustrating to feel that the director's interests and the topics he chose (the books, the position as a writer) did not match Baldwin's broader concerns about life and history.