PHOTO COURTESY FILM PITTSBURGH

No one film can fully capture the life story of a figure as monumental as Roberto Clemente.

But “Clemente,” a new documentary from writer/director David Altrogge, comes awfully close.

It is certainly comprehensive in its roster of voices. A half-dozen or more members of Clemente’s family are present, including his wife, Vera, in interviews recorded before her 2019 death. A slew of Clemente’s former teammates — including familiar voices such as Manny Sanguillen and Steve Blass — are present, as are modern ballplayers who speak reverentially of the Hall of Famer’s achievements. Famous fans like Michael Keaton and the director Richard Linklater (who received a personalized autograph from Clemente in response to a fan letter mailed as a child), weigh in; so do some of the Great One’s prominent countrymen, including Rita Moreno.

Moreover, “Clemente” is a holistic look at the man behind the on-field highlights. It’s not a fully hagiographic treatment; family members and teammates are honest about Clemente’s human side, including his anger at opposing players and his well-publicized tendency toward hypochondria. Those details add nuance, but more lingering are the remarkable tales of Clemente habitually visiting children’s hospitals while forbidding media attention, teaching poor children in Puerto Rico how to play the game and striking up friendships with young fans in Pittsburgh.

The film, which plays locally this weekend before being broadcast on the History Channel Sept. 23, will receive a grand rollout in Clemente’s adopted home. On Saturday, a gala screening will take place at the Byham Theater, featuring a Q&A with Altrogge. The following day, Clemente Museum founder Duane Rieder will introduce the film at Sewickley’s Lindsay Theater.

It will continue through (at least) Sept. 18 at the Lindsay and play from Friday through Sept. 23 at Downtown’s Harris Theater. Showings are also scheduled for Waterworks Cinemas, the GQT Pittsburgh Mills Cinemas and Cranberry Cinemas.

After details of Clemente’s upbringing, career and stardom — including his frustrations at the effects of segregation and his underappreciation by the baseball media in his playing days — the film concludes with a remarkable juxtaposition of events. In the autumn of 1971, Clemente leads his team to a World Series win, his second, elevating the club from decided underdogs to unlikely champions. Just over a year later, he dies in a tragic (and, the film explains, preventable) accident.

Setting aside the slight jump in time, no Hollywood fiction could be more poignant: A champion lost not long after his moment of glory.

It’s heartbreaking. But, thanks to the legacy detailed in this film, the man was already immortal.

My Rating: 8/10