The life of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali is well represented in film and documentaries - but with I Am Ali, director Clare Lewins has differentiated her approach with an emphasis on Ali as a family man and doting father.
The documentary weaves a non-chronological path through Ali's life, from the fateful day he took up boxing to his final fight in 1981, all told through the eyes of his family, friends and closest associates.
It's divided into chapters by interviews and interspersed with archival footage of Ali through the years. What really brings I Am Ali to life is the poignant absence of the boxer himself and the use of private audio recordings he made with his children.
In these intimate conversations, we hear Ali coach his son on his ABCs and ask his daughter what her purpose is on this Earth, giving a rare insight into the boxer's loving relationship with his children.
His daughters, Maryum and Hana, and son Muhammad Ali Junior speak about what it was like having a world-famous, much-loved boxer as a father. Poignantly, when his father told him he should aspire to be better than him, Ali Junior asks "How can you be better than the greatest?"
Ali's ex-wife Veronica Porche gives a brief but telling insight into Ali's current-day situation dealing with Parkinson's when she breaks down in tears. She also gives a glimpse into the weaker side to Ali's personality when she references his transgressions during their marriage.
In general though, the documentary tends to steer away from any negative aspects of Ali's life and myth, instead concentrating on building a picture of the man who affected the lives of so many.
I Am Ali is a skilfully made, eminently watchable documentary that serves as an excellent introduction to Ali's life and career.
Sarah McIntyre
