The story of Canada’s biggest musical icon takes centre stage in I Am: Céline Dion. Prime Video released the trailer for the documentary today ahead of its streaming debut on June 25.
Directed by Oscar nominee Irene Taylor (The Final Inch), who serves as producer alongside Stacy Lorts, Tom Mackay, and Julie Begey Seureau, I Am: Céline Dion chronicles the life and music of the Quebecois diva as she vows to savour every moment on stage. Described as “as a love letter to her fans,” I Am features intimate access to Dion as she takes Taylor into her home and behind the scenes of her lavish productions. Quick glimpses of her closet could easily be confused with an IKEA warehouse.
The film also sees Dion open up about her experience with Stiff-Person Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that cause rigidity in the body’s muscles. Dion disclosed her diagnosis in an emotional confession to fans in December 2022. Notably, the disorder also affects a person’s ability to tolerate loud noises that further complicate a singer’s ability to perform.
The first look at the documentary offers an emotional side of the singer, whose voice helped some of the biggest songs of the 1990s soar to number one and major wins at the Oscars, Grammys, and Junos, among other honours. Dion may be best known for her performance of the love theme “My Heart Will Go on” from James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster Titanic, which won 11 Oscars including Best Song and Best Picture. Dion has won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for 1997’s Falling into You. She’s generally regarded for having one of the most powerful voices in music and has been dubbed “the queen of the power ballad.”
I Am marks the first feature doc about Dion, although the singer’s work has fuelled concert films like Celine: Through the Eyes of the World (200). Dion’s story loosely inspired the 2020 faux-biopic Aline, which starred French actress Valérie Lemercier as singer “Aline Dieu,” who mirrored Dion’s story of being the youngest of 14 children and launching a career while beginning a relationship with her much-older manager that would last the rest of his lifetime.
Amazon MGM Studios and is a Vermilion Films production in partnership with Sony Music Vision and Sony Music Entertainment Canada. The film will stream on Prime Video beginning June 25.
