Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, following a limited theatrical run, is the music documentary movie, I Am: Celine Dion. Produced and directed by Irene Taylor, the docu-film centres its story around the world-famous Canadian singer, with a specific focus on her much publicised battle with stiff-person syndrome.
It’s a battle the world has only recently learned about, but in reality, Dion has struggled with the condition for 17 years. It is an illness which is greatly impacting her life, including her mobility and her ability to sing.
Featuring frank and open conversations with the singer, I Am: Celine Dion is a warts-and-all docu-film which offers unparalleled behind the scenes access to Dion. The film details the true extent of her condition, with the make-up off, the pomp and circumstance pushed to the wayside, and the truth revealed.
The documentary is honest, emotive, melancholic, and incredibly compelling. Dion opens her doors, as well as her heart, to showcase a side of herself few will have ever seen as she admits the truth about what she is dealing with.
It’s heartbreaking to hear Dion’s voice crack as she struggles to sing, or see the pain on her face when she opens up about past problems. Because Dion has been fighting this illness for years, she has masked various on-stage incidents to ensure the show goes on, for herself and more importantly her fans.
These revelations are juxtaposed with archive footage of the singer during her heyday. The footage is a stark reminder of where she was, and continually brings into focus where she is now.
One thing which stands out in the docu-film is just how personable Dion is. This is an international singing sensation, with pots of money in the bank, yet she’s never forgotten who she is or where she came from.
Dion’s family, talent, and her career are everything to her and are a key component of this story. As the documentary highlights what Dion is losing, as the stiff-person syndrome gets worse, this truly becomes a tragic tale.
As with all good documentaries, I Am: Celine Dion never loses sight of the person at the heart of the story. At times it’s a tough watch, and comes with a viewer discretion warning, but it’s a documentary which the singer clearly wants the world to see.
As Dion says in the film “I think I was very good. I think I had some stuff that was amazing.” This is all true, and producer/director Irene Taylor’s documentary is now part of her legacy.
—
—
Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment