Directed by John Ridley, “Shirley” was released on Netflix on March 15, 2024.

The movie focuses on the true story of Shirley Chisholm, who is played by Regina King, as she campaigns to be president of the United States. Chisholm was elected as the first African-American woman to be a part of the U.S. Congress in 1968 and ran for president in the 1972 election.

To start, King does a great job of depicting Chisholm in this film. She is a relatable character who keeps viewers rooting for her even while knowing the outcome of the election. In addition, I enjoyed the cinematography used in the film. It had many choppy montage scenes towards the beginning of the movie, which conveyed parts of the story in a more unconventional way that I thought was pleasant to watch.

The film kept my attention for the entirety of the hour and 56 minutes, and it was quite entertaining while also being somewhat educational. I appreciated the fact that the movie focused on a lesser-known story, one which I had no knowledge of before watching.

However, I would have liked if more of Chisolm’s story was shared. It started off with her already being a Congresswoman and immediately began with the story of her running as a presidential candidate, so I would have enjoyed more character development and a deeper story arc.

Overall, I thought “Shirley” was a great movie, and would give it an 8/10.

25rbates@usd489.com