There is a moment early in “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain” where an interviewer asks director Morgan Neville about the film’s purpose. The conversation concludes with a casual mention of trying to find out why Bourdain was who he was.

Neville’s film sets out to do just that, providing a glimpse into the enigmatic celebrity who burst on the scene as a writer and eventual TV personality but committed suicide in 2018.

Using archival footage and interviewing people who knew him best, Neville crafts a film that showcases Bourdain’s dynamic personality that made him a celebrity but created demons that perhaps contributed to his untimely death.

In “Roadrunner,” we get to see Bourdain’s rise to best-selling author and ultimately the host of several Travel Channel shows before eventually moving his show to CNN.

For most of the film, Neville allows Bourdain to be the voice of his story, using Bourdain’s words from his memoir and archival footage that captures private moments throughout his life. Neville then fills in the blanks, or as much as he possibly can, interviewing everyone from his ex-wife, Ottavia Bourdain, to the cast and crew from his travel show. In those moments, “Roadrunner” becomes more about those closest to Bourdain coming to terms with the fact that perhaps they didn’t know the man as well as they thought they did. Many are still struggling to cope with his death.

Anthony Bourdain was clearly smart, articulate and a bit of a reluctant celebrity as a man who battled drug addiction but continued to chase that high in other avenues. Neville proves to be the perfect filmmaker to tell this story, bringing the same keen eye to this film as he did in his previous documentaries “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” and “20 Feet From Stardom.”

Neville is a visual storyteller who can capture the essence of his subject matter. In “Roadrunner,” he paints a fascinating and at times heartbreaking portrait.

The film may not have all the answers, but “Roadrunner” gives us a glimpse of Bourdain’s life and continues to establish Neville as this generation’s premiere documentary filmmaker.

Starring: Anthony Bourdain, Ottavia Bourdain

Directed by: Morgan Neville

Rating: R for language

Playing at: Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12

Grade: B