The first trailer for I Am: Celine Dion, was released on Thursday (23 May).
Comments by her fans on social media underline the emotional wallop that the director, Oscar nominee Irene Taylor, was aiming for.
One writes, “Her statement, ‘if i can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I will crawl – I won’t stop’ gave me chills. She is amazing! I cannot wait to see this documentary!”
Another says, “This is just the trailer, but I’m already crying like a baby.”
The opening scene of the trailer shows a Celine who is totally unlike the glamorous figure we will see performing on stage in clips throughout the film. Sitting in a chair, and intimate with the camera that is positioned inches away from her face, she says: “I have been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder. And I wasn’t ready to say anything before. But I’m ready now.” There is both pain and resignation on the face of the woman who has shed the illusory surface of the global celebrity. She looks raw and “real.”
Diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome in 2022, she has since been open about her struggles with the disease, though apparently not as open as she could have been, something that the documentary will amply correct.
Despite the challenges, Dion has shown remarkable resilience and determination, but in the trailer she sobs and the extent of her agony, both physical and mental, is heart-wrenching.
She has been undergoing treatment and therapy to manage her symptoms and has continued to engage with her fans and the public, but as she emphasizes in the documentary, live performance, which is no longer possible, is what her artistry is all about. “I miss it so much. The people. I miss them.”
Her journey with SPS is documented, providing an intimate look at her life with the condition. It highlights her strength and dedication, as well as the support she has received from her medical team and loved ones.
Dion’s experience has brought attention to SPS, helping to raise awareness about this rare disorder that most people had never heard of before she revealed her devastating diagnosis.
The documentary promises to provide a raw and honest behind-the-scenes glimpse at Dion’s struggles and triumphs; “an emotional roller coaster,” as one fan puts it. But what emerges above all from the trailer is the dogged determination of the beloved Canadian performer to command the stage for as long as possible.
With a runtime of 102 minutes, it is scheduled to be available for streaming on June 25, 2024, on Amazon Prime Video.
