Citizen Ashe

The enduring legacy of tennis great and humanitarian Arthur Ashe

2021 | Running Time: 1 hour 34 minutes | Rating: NR

This film charts the evolution of tennis legend Arthur Ashe—still the only Black man to win singles championships at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open. As he gained international renown in the 60s, Ashe had to navigate between a conservative sports culture and the activist politics of the Civil Rights movement. The film chronicles how he found his voice as an advocate for the oppressed before his life was cut short by AIDS-related complications at age 49. Co-Directors: Sam Pollard and Rex Miller

 

 

Shortlisted for the Grierson Award for Best Sports Documentary, 2022
Nominated for Best Sports Documentary by Critics Choice Awards, 2022

“Citizen Ashe is just as interested in the man as it is the athlete, offering an inspiring examination of how this soft-spoken, mild-mannered public figure did his part during America’s civil rights struggle, insisting that quiet decency could be as effective as militant protest. “

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