If you’ve ever wondered about the history, influence, and impact of the hymn Amazing Grace, then this DVD is for you. It’s a documentary of the hymn, overseen and created by Bill Moyers. Rather than following the format of some of his later work (this was originally released in 1990), Moyers as the interviewer is mostly off-camera. The focal point instead rests on the performers and church historians who he interviewed.

Regardless of where you fall in the spectrum of belief and faith, Amazing Grace seems to have transcended time and space, becoming an ode that speaks to people across generations. It’s quite telling that the interviews take place across the US and around the world, bridging races and cultures from the Deep South to South Africa. The interviews delve into the history of the people of these various regions, looking not only at the background of the song (written by John Newton, a former British slave trader, saved quite literally by God’s grace), but also in the backgrounds of those who have sung this song all their lives.

The documentary features performances from Joan Collins, Jessye Norman, Jean Ritchie, the Boys Choir of Harlem, Johnny Cash and others. It also features Jeremy Irons in a narration role as the voice of John Newton. The bonus features include an extra small documentary on Pete Seeger, biographies of Bill Moyers and the performers, and a viewer’s guide with an in-depth look at the song and its lyrics. All in all, though it looks a little dated by this point, this is a compelling look at one of the world’s most well known songs. Powerful stuff.