Life Itself

Roger Ebert didn't just review movies—he taught America how to think about them, championing substance, artistry, and the power of cinema to reveal our shared humanity.

This documentary traces Ebert's journey from student journalist to Pulitzer Prize-winning critic. The film reveals how Ebert and fellow critic Gene Siskel pioneered television film criticism, transforming "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" into cultural touchstones while championing small films and unknown directors. The film captures Ebert's passion for cinema, his love story with wife Chaz, and his unflinching final months battling cancer.

A moving portrait of a man who believed movies could teach us empathy and whose legacy continues inspiring how we engage with film and storytelling.