This is the MLK documentary that should be required viewing in high schools but probably isn't, because it's uncomfortable. It strips away the feel-good mythology and shows the exhausted, depressed, increasingly radical man who kept fighting even when America turned on him.

The format is conventional—interview subjects reflecting on King's final years—but the content is powerful. You get the story of King's turn toward economic justice and anti-war activism, the Poor People's Campaign, the garbage workers' strike in Memphis, and the toll of constant death threats and criticism from all sides.

It's not an easy watch. There's disturbing historical footage of violence against protesters, strong language, and a pervasive sense of tragedy knowing where it's headed. But for teens ready to grapple with real history and the cost of moral courage, it's invaluable. The critical acclaim is deserved—this is essential viewing for understanding both MLK and the ongoing struggle for justice in America.