The movie Satisfied takes its title from Angelica Schuyler’s big solo in the musical Hamilton, but it quickly becomes apparent how well that also applies to Renee Elise Goldsberry. The actor who won a Tony Award for originating the role of Angelica is front and center in the documentary, which weaves together Goldsberry’s casting as Angelica with her journey as a mother.

Audiences know the documentary process of showing how a star’s life isn’t as glamorous as it appears. That’s the gist of most celebrity docs and even scripted biopics, is to pierce the veil and make fans feel like they can look at the subject instead of looking up at them. That’s also what happens in Satisfied, but hearing so much of it from Goldsberry herself, in her voice and her own words, makes this movie feel more intimate. She’s the narrator taking the hand of the audience and bringing them along, rather than other people speaking for her or the filmmakers telling the viewer how to feel.

Satisfied directors Chris Bolan and Melissa Haizlip understand that many viewers will recognize Goldsberry’s name from Hamilton, in addition to the renewed interest around the tenth anniversary of the musical, so they smartly use Hamilton as the spine of their piece. But this isn’t a one-dimensional documentary. The events that the duo are covering actually take place almost parallel to Goldsberry being cast as Angelica, so it would be hard to tell this story without Hamilton. At the same time, it would be a disservice to simplify the actor’s career down to just a singular role, so it’s appreciated that footage from other projects finds its way in to remind viewers just how talented she is and how much she’s accomplished.

Anyone coming to the movie for inside scoop on Hamilton will not be disappointed. There’s plenty of footage behind the scenes and from rehearsals, and getting to hear Lin-Manuel Miranda’s demo version of “Satisfield” is amazing even if it’s only briefly. It is fun to follow the human process of an artist trying to keep the role, figure out the role and then growing into the role. So much has been said and written about the making of Hamilton, but Satisfied lets viewers take that journey emotionally.

What is most important about the film, however, is what it adds to the conversation about motherhood and career. This is a universal dilemma for many women across many professions, but particularly in acting, when so much is based on image, it can seem impossible. There’s an extra degree of difficulty on the stage, doing eight shows a week as opposed to a certain number of pages a day on a film or TV shoot. Goldsberry is open about all of her feelings and insecurities, both professional and personal. But this is no cautionary tale; it is a celebration. Satisfied encapsulates better than any other documentary the highs and lows of being an actor, thanks to Renee Elise Goldsberry.

Satisfied is in theaters now through October 2, 2025. Tickets are on sale now through Fathom Events. Photo Credit: Courtesy of AURA Entertainment.

Article content is (c)2020-2025 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.