Film legend Sidney Lumet (1924-2011) tells his own story in a never-before-seen interview shot in 2008. With candor, humor and grace, Lumet reveals what matters to him as an artist and as a human being. The documentary features clips from Lumet’s films – 44 films made in 50 years – including "Serpico", "Dog Day Afternoon", "12 Angry Men", "Network" and "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead". Peabody and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Nancy Buirski ("Afternoon of a Faun", "The Loving Story") combines these elements to create a portrait of one of the most accomplished, influential and socially conscious directors in the history of cinema.
"By Sydney Lumet" reveals the spiritual and ethical lessons at the core of his work. First and foremost a storyteller, Lumet’s strongly moral tales capture the dilemmas and concerns of a society struggling with essentials: how does one behave to others and to oneself?