Magnolia Pictures will release Venus And Serena (the feature documentary directed and produced by Maiken Baird and Michelle Major) in theaters on May 10 (it’ll be on VOD a month before, on April 4).
The film gives audiences an unfiltered look into the remarkable lives of the greatest sister act professional tennis has ever seen. In a sport where they were not welcomed, the indomitable Williams sisters faced the opposition with grace and courage, not only breaking new ground for female and African American athletes everywhere, but also dominating the women’s game for over a decade.
The film includes interviews with Bill Clinton, Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Arnon Milchan, Gay Telese, Anna Wintour among many others.
By the way, long-time Spike Lee editor Sam Pollard (and director of Slavery By Another Name), cut this Williams sisters doc as well.
This is the same documentary that the sisters were reportedly upset over, because of how it portrays their father, Richard Williams – including “his foibles, from his out-of-wedlock children to a 78-page manifesto he had plotting out his daughters’ success at a very young age.”
It debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival last September; I eventually saw it at the DOC NYC festival and gave it a positive review.
The film’s first trailer has finally surfaced, and is embedded below, followed by the poster:
