JIM reviews documentary film "CELINE: THROUGH THE EYES OF THE WORLD"

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Céline { Dion }: Through the Eyes of the World

MY Rating: 8.5 of 10 stars (based on an advance screening of the approx. 2-hour film, which is scheduled to play for only a limited engagement period of 2-17 thru 2-28-10).

Her Heart (& POPULARITY) Will Go ON…

In 2008-09, Céline Dion — the largest-selling female recording artist ever — embarked on a massive World Tour covering 131 performances after she stopped her long-running show in Las Vegas (which lasted nearly five years, was seen by nearly 3 million people & grossed an estimated $ 400 million)…

… The Tour was an extremely well-received excursion, coming in second to only Madonna in 2008 sales of show tickets. This documentary captures numerous elements of the Tour:

… The film starts out naming a bunch of the cities where the Tour performed. At first, I thought that was a wise decision— but it actually turned out to be somewhat repetitive, in that the same basic info was repeated LATER in the documentary via both filmed scenes and explanatory subtitles…

… But, outside of that, I was strongly “WOWED” by the film, because it provided an unusually WIDE-RANGING & enjoyable view of what the Tour INVOLVED for a lot of the people concerned: it not only has a bunch of her concert PERFORMANCES around the world, but also some of the REHEARSALS, the DIFFICULTIES encountered (such as health issues for Céline), etc…

… What particularly surprised & pleased me — & unusual for such a venture — was the special efforts she made to ENGAGE with the people & cultures where they stopped. She was accompanied on the travels by her husband (& “manager”) René & their then 7-year-old son René-Charles Dion Angélil (along with a tutor for the boy, who was born in Florida)…

… Besides performing, Céline worked to visit people who had health concerns, to take time with fans, & to learn about the history of places they visited: the Tour started in South Africa, &, after meeting ex-President Nelson Mandela, she showed her son where he was in prison on Robben Island for 27 years…

… The movie also showed an emotional visit they made to the German Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp from World War II, took tours of various cities (such as the canals in Amsterdam), etc…

… One of the first songs she sings is “Is That All Right (I Belong To You)” in JOHANNESBURG. You see meetings with a number of South African performers and everyday people (including in the Soweto low-income area)…

… At one point, Céline sings “You are my strength—” in that country, along with special editing that (as I recall) showed various subsequent sections of the song sung by her in OTHER cities around the world: that way, it comes across very effectively as “one” song performance, altho it’s done at many different times and places…

… In time, you hear her sing “I Got The Music In Me”, followed by performances in CAPETOWN & PORT ELIZABETH in South Africa, plus some rehearsal time with her band & dancers & singers in Johannesburg & other places…

… To see more of the country where she’s performing, Céline, her husband & their son visit a Park which has some white lion cubs (which she lovingly holds, while her son seems somewhat afraid of them)… Later, they go on a SAFARI & see zebras, elephants, and other native wild animals…

… As Céline travels around, you can hear her perform “We will rock you—”, “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now”, & numerous other hits. Also, there are periodic highlightings of band members (such as the lead guitarist & violinist), the dancers (including personal talks with some of them), & others in her crew and management (with her kidding around at times, talking seriously with them & fans, etc.)…

… One of her dancers is from Australia, & when the Tour visits there, Céline & the family take special pains to visit his FAMILY at their home, & to later have them attend a concert (after she recovers from a throat infection that delayed her BRISBANE show)…

… Similarly, when they visit SEOUL, Korea, she specially introduces one of her female dancers to the audience, explaining that the woman had been born in Korea, left when she was a young child, & this was the first trip BACK to her homeland since then (which very much touched everyone. Later, near the end of the tour, the dancer announces that she’s decided to try to find her original FAMILY back there)…

… In another location, Céline is heard to comment that it’s her first performance as a 40-year-old, & she’s soon heard singing “The show must go on—”… In China, before a show, she’s asked by a journalist what she thinks is “the future of China power”. Diplomatically, she replied that “The power’s nothing—” unless people use it wisely & well… Later (possibly coincidentally or as a “counterpoint”?), she sings “The Power Of Love” in a concert…

… During her concert in London (where she, as usual, uses her specially-designed set of an “in-the-round” stage with elevators to help performers rise up), she sings the Beatles’ song “A Ticket To Ride”…

… In time, Céline sings “All By Myself”, & soon after suffers a problem with her JAW that requires it to be “snapped” back into its proper position— after which she kids with the doctor, “Now, it’s MY turn {to do that to you}!”…

… At one point, the film delves into a bit of the HISTORY of Céline: she won the Yamaha World Popular Song Festival in 1982, & (as shown in the film) also won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1988 (a sort of fore-runner to the “IDOL” shows) which is what really “LAUNCHED” Céline on her long & successful career…

… Continuing with the Tour footage, we’re shown Céline visiting ANTWERP, Belgium, where she meets a woman who donated a kidney to her young son (who’s also there & thrilled to meet Céline, whom he gives a special gift)… There are performances there and in BRUSSELS, after which the Tour heads to France…

… In PARIS, she is besieged by huge crowds wanting to see her at the hotel where she’s staying, & she happily greets them, signs a number of autographs, etc. At one point, French President Sarkozy presents her with a Legion Of Honor medal, to recognize how she has popularized songs sung in French around the world…

… Later, Céline’s SON wants to wear the medal, his father explains how it’s really just for his mother to wear— &, like a typical young kid, he charmingly says, well, he SHOULD be able to wear it, because he ALSO sings songs in French at times!… (At one point, he does sing a song with his mom & dad nearby)…

… The Tour is possibly not documented in a fully “CHRONOLOGICAL” order, in that it shows footage from MONTREAL (where her family lives), followed by scenes of a performance in KRAKOW, Poland… Later, there is footage of when the tour visits BERLIN, AMSTERDAM (where her husband & son play golf as she’s touring around), etc.…

… You’ll see footage shot in DUBLIN, Ireland, where Céline is shown being involved in a “contest” some entity is running there… At another stop of the Tour, as she’s on a boat, she speaks of having an “allergic” reaction to some food, & kids that she looks like she’s gone “amuck” with “botox”… AMSTERDAM footage is followed by some shot in COPENHAGEN, Denmark and STOCKHOLM, Sweden (where she sings with a Swedish composer)…

… In BERLIN, an image projected on a screen affords her the opportunity to perform a fine “duet” with Andrea Bocelli… In the Czech Republic, she specially learns how to address people from PRAGUE in their native tongue (which she does in a number of other places)… Then, she performs in KRAKOW…

… In MILAN, Italy, a woman fan from Sicily is thrilled to meet her, commenting on how long she’d dreamed of being able to do that… In NICE, France, she talks in person to Oprah Winfrey & her friend Gail who are visiting there. Oprah (who’s had her on her show a number of times) comments on how Céline had barely taken a break between her Las Vegas work & starting this Tour…

… In ARRAS in far northern France (near Calais), Céline happily performs in the rain for the enthusiastic audience… At one point, she starts touring in the U.S.— but her schedule to the western areas (such as Salt Lake City) had to be re-done when she developed more health problems around her throat area…

… In time, she performs in GUADALAJARA (where she twirls a baton) & MEXICO CITY, SAN JUAN in Puerto Rico, etc. She thanks her assistant performers for “giving your soul” to the Tour project, and there seems to be real warmth in the company… During the last stop on the Tour (in OMAHA), Céline can be heard singing her biggest hit, “My Heart Will Go On” (from the film “Titanic”)…

… There are some miscellaneous scenes from various previous stops (such as Dublin) shown towards the end of the film, followed by what seem to be heartfelt cries and hugs between Céline & some of her dancers, singers and band members as the grueling year-long tour finally ENDS for all of them…

… Céline doesn’t really answer when she’s asked, how long will it be before she decides to put on ANOTHER show tour— just wanting to rest & relax back in Montreal with her family…

… For those who love Céline’s wonderfully soaring voice & energetic performances, this is a really fine, multi-layered view of what it “TAKES” to put on a Tour for the public, while you at the same time try to interact with your FAMILY & the people you can meet around the world…

… I was very highly IMPRESSED with what this film put “together” to show both the performances & the people “BEHIND” it all…