I Am: Celine Dion
Canada
8147 people rated A raw and honest behind-the-scenes look at the iconic superstar's struggle with Stiff Person Syndrome, a life-altering illness.
Documentary
Biography
Music
Cast (11)
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User Reviews
WarutthaIm
14/06/2025 04:23
I'm speechless how open she is. But I also can relate. Around 5 years ago I started lost my senses in my limbs and was diagnosed with a spine condition. As an ex-athlete it was - and still is difficult to accept that the best days are behind and the passion that kept me going is gone.
Nobody's immune to fate. She's and always will be a true Diva, with a wonderful voice and personality.
I enjoyed seeing backstage footages, she's just being at home, her open personality about her illness and life. And the fact that she is aging gracefully, no make up. Just her at home talking about her passion and struggles.
Celine, show or not - you are loved. It's hard not to feel "guilty" when we have a good day. But try to enjoy it without being hard on yourself.
Keffas👣
14/06/2025 04:23
I am not a fan, but I was interested to see this.
Firstly the color grading was very distracting (desaturated) almost looing like "log" footage.
Also, it was under-exposed, so much that combined with the "color" grading, it all appeared drab, dark and murky.
Now I know the subject matter does not lend itself to vibrant colors etc, however having correct exposure and natural colours would have made it easier to watch.
In terms of content, and I know I'm not a fan, but there was a lot of "filler" from various performances that to me did not really enhance the story.
I don't think Celine Dion really gave that much away, and as a result I was bored and did not finish it.
Maybe best for die-hard fans, but for a passing observer, it left me cold with nothing really to say for itself.
King K
14/06/2025 04:23
I was able to view this documentary today streaming on Prime. My own take may seem harsh to some but I believe what this shows is her narcissism. We see that from a very young age, in an interview she stated that she wanted to sing the rest of her life, but more important, to become a world-famous performer. As an adult she admits that being on stage, receiving applause from the audience, is like a drug addiction to her. She can hardly live without the approval and adulation of others, mostly strangers. That seems very narcissistic to me.
I find myself wondering what it is like to have only one goal, one obsession your whole life, forming your whole identity by how well you do that one thing, then start having difficulty doing it.
To me the most important part of this documentary starts at 1 hour 15 minutes into it. We are shown how it is now for her, to go into a recording studio to do one fairly straightforward song. Take after take, either her voice doesn't respond or when it does undesired vocal breaks enter randomly. Then the aftermath of that plus the rest of the presentation.
I have always had a mixed reaction to her singing. On the one hand, in her prime she had one of the best singing voices ever and it was always clear she loved what she was doing. But a comment she makes, that the song itself isn't so important, it is the way the singer sings it, and that explains why I strongly dislike so many of her songs. Too much vocal "gymnastics." Just because you can do fancy runs doesn't necessarily mean you should. Or at least not to the great extent that she does them in many songs. There is a fine line that separates welcome embellishment from unwanted extremes and she crosses it frequently.
I thoroughly enjoyed the documentary, I admit I had a tear in my eye when she was struggling so greatly and the doctors had to act fast to save her. Overall it is a sad tale, how the rare condition of stiff person syndrome (SPS) has wrecked her career. They seem to have hope it can be contained enough so that she can perform live again but it doesn't look very promising. Thanks to CDs and DVDs we never have to forget who she was and how she sounded.
🌚
14/06/2025 04:23
I am curious as to why she hasn't looked into CRISPR DNA editing to help her severe stiff person syndrome symptoms? It has already been done in the last few years, so why not go for it?
I Am: Celine Dion" offers a comprehensive look into the life and career of the iconic singer. The documentary provides a mix of personal interviews, concert footage, and behind-the-scenes moments that highlight Dion's dedication to her craft and the impact of her music.
While fans of Dion will appreciate the intimate glimpses into her personal life and the extensive coverage of her illustrious career, the documentary can feel a bit lengthy and repetitive at times. The narrative structure, though thorough, sometimes lacks a clear direction, which might not engage viewers who are less familiar with her work.
Overall, "I Am: Celine Dion" serves as a detailed tribute to one of music's most celebrated artists, but its appeal may be limited to her most devoted fans.
🇱🇾ٱڸالـ۾ــــــانێ
14/06/2025 04:23
For me, a documentary is all about being raw and authentic. This is the definition of a documentary!
It is so sad to watch a person with a fire inside her, but she can't do what she wants. Imagine being thirsty and you are in a desert with no water, it's like dying. SPS is pure hell. I feel so sorry for Celine and the struggle and pain she is going through.
You can feel through the screen that she wants to sing but can't. The fact that she can't sing like she used to due to SPS is heartbreaking. The whole situation going on with Celine is heartbreaking.
But, we should not forget that other people around the world are suffering from SPS too, and going through the same pain and struggles. We shall also not forget that Celine has an amazing team around her. Her team is helping her and trying to make this difficult journey as easy as possible for her. The fact that she is rich enough to afford a team that will take care of her and make sure that she has everything she needs is worth a lot. It doesn't take away the pain of course or the struggle but it takes away a little bit of the worry for her about money or healthcare issues or whatever issue.
Imagine being a normal person with a normal income and dealing with SPS.
Celine should be happy she has the financial security to deal with this. It helps and is comforting In some ways.
At least she doesn't have to worry about certain things while dealing with this SPS.
Anyhow this documentary was amazing and it give us a view of how it is to live with SPS. How devastating it is.
It's like being in a prison of some sort. You try to escape this prison but can't. I feel SPS is like a prison sentence of some sort.
I'm glad she felt comfortable enough to be herself in this documentary. To educate and raise awareness about SPS.
She is a brave woman! She is truly amazing and has done amazing things in life. I'm glad she felt comfortable enough to show this side of her and her life.
100% a must-watch for sure!
Marx Lee
14/06/2025 04:23
When you sit down to watch this, have a box of tissues ready. This is one of the most beautiful, genuine, raw and heartbreaking documentaries I've seen on a real icon.
Over the past decade or so we have had hours and hours of fake "reality" TV and documentaries produced. They are scripted, staged, not a wrinkle seen or an hair out of place, where everything is a "drama." Think the Kardashians.
This documentary is real, and honest. Céline Dion comes across down to earth and very self aware.
I wouldn't call myself a fan, but I can't deny her talent, and how her illness is affecting her life and family.
user303421
14/06/2025 04:23
Admittedly I am not someone who has followed Celine's career closely. I appreciate her talent and showmanship. I, like I'm sure a lot of people are, wondering how she is doing so I went to see this movie. It was: interesting, exciting, heartfelt, sweet, sorrowful, raw, devastating, and yet in the end hopeful. I've never seen someone of her caliber be so transparent. She allowed the cameras to capture the good, bad and ugly of the stiff person syndrome. She is a fighter and wants desperately to get back to doing what she loves and to be in front of an audience again. I hope which ever way it goes she can find peace and a purpose in life whether she can perform on stage again or not. She is very real and has very little ego. She is appreciative of her gifts and all the people in her life. You can tell she isn't a diva. I thought they'd spend a little more time discussing the disease itself and the research being done, but they really focused only on her life, past and present, and how she is coping, and how she hopes to continue. There is a part of her that is bigger than life and you can tell she has grabbed hold of it and lived it 100%, leaving nothing on the table. It doesn't seem she knows any other way. I recommend this movie to anyone, whether you are a major fan or not.
user9657708242373
14/06/2025 04:23
I found this documentary to be self-centered self-absorbed. Celine wants to be the star of the show at all times. Her demeanor in my opinion is pompous. She thinks she is funny and charming the way she speaks is irritating to say the very least.
It seems as though this syndrome is self-inflicted due to her career. She has more money than she knows what to do with yet she kept going and going and going because she wants to be the star of the show at all times. Yes, I repeated that statement. She brags about how she works with her sports medicine doctor every day and that she takes all these medicines that are very expensive every day and that she does this and she does that well la ti da Celine good for you. Why don't you take some of your cherished costumes in your giant storage unit and auction them off and help people pay some of their medical bills?
HakimOfficial
14/06/2025 04:23
Not okay to show this suffering at the end of the movie with such detail and without any kind of ethical behavior. Just not okay. The scene is already moving enough beforehand and without the explicity. Nothing is given by the last scenes. Nothing particular important added. It's just wrong and has no benefits.
The rest of the "documentary" has some good scenes - even it sometimes giving you the super-needed and try-hard of rescuing her career. There's something wrong about the attitude, even in really respect the toughness and consistency of her doing and for sure her past. Sometimes it's just better to let it be and enjoy what you reached.
Maria Nsue
14/06/2025 04:23
This documentary will hit you hard with reality. Irene Taylor did an amazing job showcasing, chronologically, what Celine Dion has gone through over the years,concert by concert. A few snippets of HD footage are mixed with raw versions of makeup-free Celine struggling. For the 911 scene, bring tissues because, in the end, its about a human trying.to continue her dream of returning to the stage. Celine, your heart will go on forever. We are here not for the apples., but for the tree.
My most favourite part was the home made scenes and the family interaction. Extremely recommended to watch in Amazon Prime.