Watch When I Rise For Free

An Exercise In Nonsense

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Director Mat Hames and editor Sandra Guardado delicately captured the wonderful story of our heroine, her conflict, and triumphs in as graceful a manner as the subject herself. Barbara Smith Conrad's fluid and elegant nature innately captivates her audience right from the start.Live footage with a renowned superstar, mentor and supporter adds to the sweet pleasure of viewing this film. The beautiful, lush green Texas scenery and wholesome Center Point community creates a richly tasteful experience.When I Rise is a must see for music enthusiasts, arts and civil rights educators and students alike, with an unavoidable true to life message at its core.

The life of Barbara Smith Conrad is one of courage, hope and love. This film tells her story through the struggle, disappointments, perseverance, and ultimate success of a girl whose love of music and hope for an education brought her to the University of Texas during the Civil Rights movement and placed her at the center of racial controversy in Texas.I saw this premiere at SXSW and a week later am still thinking about the importance of this story. Important because it documents an era in our history that should never be forgotten and important because it reminds us what can be achieved even against great odds.Mat Hames directed a beautiful film that draws you in not just with the story itself, but with the music, photography, interviews, original photos and film footage. I laughed, I cried, I felt shame for a time in our history, and I felt joy for the life of Barbara Smith Conrad. I loved this film - a perfect 10!!!

Saw this movie when it premiered in Austin at South By Southwest. This is a powerful movie that tells the amazing story of Barbara Smith Conrad, the impact of racism on her as a student at the University of Texas and on her career, and how she overcame all of it to become one of the most famous women in opera. The director, Mat Hames, does an amazing job capturing the hurt and the hope and taking the audience along the journey of Mrs. Conrad. The movie is beautifully filmed, using many original photos, newspaper headlines, and news footage and interviews from the day intermingled with current and more recent footage and interviews. 10 stars without reservation!

Like Denzel Washington's feature film The Great Debaters, When I Rise retrieves a long-forgotten piece of Texas's contentious Civil Rights history. Not surprisingly, When I Rise was very well-received in its World Premiere at SXSW. The story of how Barbara Smith Conrad was denied the opportunity to perform in an Opera at the University of Texas-Austin at the dawn of Civil Rights movement provides a very personal window into the racism of that era. The film is beautiful and sensitively made and provides a story of redemption for both Conrad and ultimately the University which supported the project. This film should be widely viewed so that young people today can come to understand that today's more tolerant multicultural society has been achieved only through a long and difficult struggle that should never be forgotten. Conrad provides an excellent role model of grace and perseverance.