It is no exaggeration to say that Norman Lear’s sitcom empire revolutionized American culture in the 1970s, from the controversial All in the Family to the feminist Maude and groundbreaking African-American show The Jeffersons. Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady (Detropia, 12th & Delaware) put a fresh spin on the celebrity bio-pic, focusing mostly on Lear’s salad days while nimbly gliding through other sections of Lear’s life, including his early days with Lewis & Martin and later political work with People for the American Way. A jazzy collage of a uniquely creative life, the film is rich with visual tricks and a percussive Birdman-esque soundtrack. Of course, Lear isn’t a flawless hero: Good Times star Esther Rolle and others reveal Lear’s very human complexities. But in this era of cheap, profit-obsessed corporate storytelling, Lear’s career provides a powerful reminder of the potential of progressive media. (PS)Preceded by a provocation by Jae Rhim Lee.