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The first woman to run in the Democratic Party primaries in 1972 shares her story in Shirley. The Netflix biopic on pioneering African American politician Shirley Chisholm, vividly portrays her groundbreaking 1972 presidential campaign. Directed by John Ridley, it navigates Chisholm's (Regina King) journey with some clunkiness, focusing more on her symbolic significance than her character depth.

Chisholm made history in 1968 by becoming the first African American woman to serve as a U.S. representative. In 1972, she further solidified her place in history by becoming the first African American woman to seek nomination for president.

Throughout her political career, Chisholm faced numerous challenges, including being underfunded and underestimated by political establishments dominated by white men. Despite these obstacles, she persisted in advocating for her beliefs and challenging the status quo. The biopic explores Chisholm's groundbreaking campaign for the presidency and her lasting impact on American politics.

The film celebrates Chisholm's legacy but simplifies her complexities, portraying her more as an idealized symbol than a fully realized character. It lacked depth in capturing her multifaceted personality, struggles and relationships— particularly with figures like Diahann Carroll (Amirah Vann) and Arthur Hardwick Jr (Terrance Howard), which gave a surface-level understanding of their significance in Chisholm's life and political journey. While it acknowledges Chisholm's importance, it would’ve benefitted with a more nuanced portrayal that fully honors her complexity as a person and political figure.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can watch the film on Netflix or catch the trailer (watch trailer, runtime2:18)

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