What happens when one of the most powerful voices in music can no longer sing? This doc details Dion’s battle with the rare neurological disorder Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS).
Trailer for “I Am: Celine Dion”
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- During what was supposed to be a routine shoot, Dion suffers an SPS attack so severe that the crew calls 911 on camera. It turns into a medical emergency mid-filming.
Watch “I Am: Celine Dion”
You can watch “I Am: Celine Dion” on Amazon Prime Video.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 98/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 100/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Irene Taylor directed this 103-minute doc. She’s also behind “Hear and Now” (Sundance award winner) and “Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements.” Her style often blends intimate family storytelling with urgent health issues.
Release Date: June 25, 2024 (Amazon Prime Video global release)
My Review of “I Am: Celine Dion”
The Setup
This film follows Céline Dion as she pulls back the curtain on her debilitating illness. Once the queen of Las Vegas residencies and 200 million albums sold, Dion now struggles with muscle spasms so severe she can barely walk or breathe. The camera often lingers on her frustration, pain, and resilience—all in unflinching detail.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Dion describes how her muscles can lock up so tightly that even swallowing water becomes impossible. Her own body feels like a prison.
- She insists on rehabbing by singing scales in her home studio, even when her voice cracks and falters. Watching the world’s most famous singer fight to hit a single note is both brutal and inspiring.
- She delivers a mantra that sums up her grit: “If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl. And I won’t stop.”
- Dion’s twin sons, Nelson and Eddy Angélil, appear—showing the private family side she usually shields from cameras.
- Her sprawling Las Vegas compound includes a warehouse of stage costumes, gowns, and memorabilia—many she may never perform in again.
- The film shows how SPS has been misdiagnosed for years, with Dion visiting countless specialists before finally getting clarity in 2022.
- Archival footage intercuts her current struggles with her past dominance: from Titanic’s “My Heart Will Go On” to sold-out arenas where she barely broke a sweat.
- The documentary quickly became the most-watched in Amazon Prime Video history, showing the scale of her global fanbase.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- She admits she kept her illness hidden for years out of fear that promoters would cancel shows and insurance wouldn’t cover her tours.
- Dion’s vocal coach demonstrates that her muscle rigidity doesn’t just affect her body—it affects her diaphragm and throat, making singing physically dangerous.
- In a poignant moment, she revisits her late husband René Angélil’s office, still untouched since his death in 2016, connecting her grief to her present battle.
Wrap Up
This is the rawest music doc I’ve seen. It’s less about fame and more about survival. If you’ve ever doubted Celine Dion’s toughness, this will erase it.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc