Memory is a curious thing. It blends the conscious and subconscious, creating something that can hurt us, lead us astray, and bring us comfort or pain. It can be grounding and disorienting. It can also scare us, particularly if it begins to fade away. Nikki Giovanni doesn’t find the latter intimidating. Though recent health struggles have compromised her memory, she has long employed autonomy over what her mind holds onto. Which, in many ways, allows Giovanni to fully surrender to the limitlessness of her existence. It will take her anywhere, even Mars. The 79-year-old’s interpretation of memory is what’s explored in Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project . The documentary, which made its debut at Sundance Film Festival this year , does so much more than chart the poet’s life and career. Filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson do something much more compelling: explore where a soul has been and where it’s going. “I don’t remember a lot of things,” Giovanni says at the top...
