Who is Celine Dion really? Behind the multiple, cascading notes of fate and her dizzying voice, Irene Taylor’s film finds an answer. The director – nominated for an Oscar for his documentary about polio – finds a singer who was banished from the limelight after being diagnosed with Peary syndrome.
No, you don’t have to be a fan of Celine Dion’s music to be interested in this piece. Although the artist’s career and personality play an important role, the documentary highlights the symptoms and consequences of the rare disease.
Before Celine Dion, few knew about Strong Personality Syndrome (RPS). It affects one in a million people, mostly women. Described as a neurological disorder, it causes every muscle in the body to contract in the form of convulsions.
Understanding Strong Personality Syndrome
In the artist’s case, the disease compresses his vocal cords and larynx, simply preventing him from singing and moving. I Am: Celine Dion is not a medical or scientific document. She popularizes this incurable illness through her expertise as a performer.
Before the film, something becomes clear: few superstars have shown themselves in such difficulty in front of the camera. The singer appears flawless and details the direct effects of her illness in a brutal sequence.
At the end of the documentary, Celine Dion has a seizure, surrounded by the entire film crew. His entire body becomes rigid, his terrified face is paralyzed, and his screams are heard only from within. He cannot speak or move.
Celine Dion at the film premiere in New York.
If the medical team works to help him, there is a shock. For them, as for the audience. This scene, which lasts five to eight minutes, only justifies the mechanism of this documentary, whose primary goal remains to raise public awareness.
I Am: Celine Dion also contains many vivid moments, such as a visit to the warehouse where the diva archives all the costumes and objects from her life. The documentary is full of concert images, but also more intimate moments, sometimes twisted and surreal.
Celine Dion in the movies, what else is that?
Although the singer starred in the romantic comedy Love Again in 2023 – set for release in 2021 – she is best known for appearing on film soundtracks. Celine Dion is one of the most in-demand artists in Hollywood studios, most recently for Deadpool 2.
Two of his songs won Oscars: the first in 1992 for Beauty and the Beast, the theme song for the film Beauty and the Beast, and the second in 1998 for My Heart Will Go On, the iconic title track from James Cameron’s Titanic.
Additional anecdote: Celine Dion holds the record for most singing at the Oscars. Seven times in total.
I Am: Celine Dion is available on Prime Video.
Source: Allocine

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.