‘I Am: Celine Dion’ Documentary Trailer Gives The World an Emotional Look at Her Stiff Person Syndrome
Written by Rtradio on May 23, 2024
Celine Dion is telling her own story and giving fans a look at her illustrious career and complex personal life.
The first trailer for the long-awaited documentary dropped on Thursday, giving fans a glimpse at the range and scope of what this unique look at the songstress’ life will explore.
Making sure the world knows exactly who she is, the trailer begins with a clip of Dion belting out an extremely loud note in the studio, before asking if the sound engineer is “OK.”
“My voice is the conductor of my life” she says. “When your voice brings you joy, you’re the best of yourself. I need my instrument.”
After clips of her with her sons, taking the stage during one of her jam-packing concerts across the globe, (and her spending time in her wardrobe storage) things take a turn and a 9-1-1 operator’s voice can be heard on the phone. Next, the moment she recorded her message announcing her Stiff Person Syndrome diagnosis plays.
Dion then becomes emotional as she speaks about her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome and how it’s taken a toll on her career.
“It’s not hard to do a show you know,” she says as clips of her taking medicine and sitting in rehearsals play. “It’s hard to cancel a show. I’m working hard every day, but I have to admit it’s been a struggle. I miss it so much,” she continues through tears. “The people. I just thought, if I could run or walk, if I could walk or crawl.”
Dion ends the trailer with optimism.
“I won’t stop,” she says.”
Dion teased the trailer’s release on Wednesay — in a joint Instagram post with Prime Video — which was captioned, “It’s time to hear her story. I Am: Celine Dion trailer tomorrow.”
According to the film’s official synopsis, I Am: Celine Dion is “an intimate exploration that takes viewers on a journey inside the 55-year-old’s past and present as she reveals her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) and the lengths she has gone to continue performing for her beloved and loyal fans.”
From visiting her couture touring wardrobe and personal effects to spending time in the recording studio, the documentary captures a global megastar’s never-before-seen private life. “An emotional, energetic, and poetic love letter to music, I Am: Celine Dion captures more than a year of filming as the legendary singer navigates her journey toward living an open and authentic life amidst illness,” the description reads.
Celine was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder in December 2022, a condition that has forced her to cancel various concerts and ultimately led to the discontinuation of her Courage World Tour, which she last performed in March 2020.
Stiff Person Syndrome is a “rare, progressive neurological disorder” that can cause stiff muscles in the torso, arms, and legs, according to the National Institutes of Health.
As for the film itself — which was helmed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Irene Taylor — Amazon MGM Studios announced back in January that it has acquired worldwide rights to the feature-length documentary.
Prior to the documentary’s premiere, Dion will sit down with Hoda Kotb for an exclusive interview during the a special primetime hour on June 11 at 10 p.m.
I Am: Celine Dion debuts June 25 on Prime Video.
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