Clemente is one of few positive documentaries you'll see this year. While the great right fielder did die young, this is not a deep dive in to the preventable tragedy that killed him. Nor is it an exposé on his hidden side. No, this is the rare true story about a man being great on and off the field. And in a time where every athlete, actor, musician and politician is bound to disappoint, it's a great reminder that he was one of one.
If you've read David Maraniss's essential biography or seen the PBS American Experience episode, there's little here that will be new to you. But if you're a casual baseball fan - or just trying to get someone into the sport - this is a terrific starting point. The doc covers all the basics of Roberto Clemente's rise from a poor area of Puerto Rico to superstardom. But it's hardly tidy summation that paints a rosy picture of his life.
A good chunk of the film focuses on - but doesn't belabor - Clemente's struggles against racism. From baseball cards calling him "Bob" to sportswriters exaggerating his accent to the hatred he experienced from both white people (for being Black) and Black people (for being Latino). All of it was heinous but culturally accepted at the time. And while he carried it with grace - and a knife in case things got violent - he still boldly pushed for civil rights. Hearing him speak in archival footage, it's clear he would still inspire vitriol from white fans.
But while he was a two-time champion, regular season and World Series MVP, and Hall of Famer, he was arguably even more devoted to his wife and three sons. And his passion for baseball was only dwarfed by his passion for Puerto Rico. He would regularly hold clinics for local children - free of charge - and not just for photo ops. He really cared about the sport and the people, hoping to instill the fundamentals of the game, even if they would never achieve his level of fame.
Unlike its subject, there is nothing revolutionary or special about Clemente. It's just a solidly done sports doc. When your focus is someone this larger-than-life, that's all you need.
