Celine Dion overcomes rain and illness to save Olympics openinghttps://en.majalla.com/node/321651/culture-social-affairs/celine-dion-overcomes-rain-and-illness-save-olympics-opening
Celine Dion overcomes rain and illness to save Olympics opening
The legendary Canadian singer recently revealed her struggle with Stiff Person Syndrome in a moving documentary that showed how one’s of the world’s biggest stars now struggles to stand and walk.
Singer Celine Dion performing on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024.
Celine Dion overcomes rain and illness to save Olympics opening
Celine Dion astonished the world at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, especially those who had watched her recent documentary.
This chronicled her struggle with an illness few people had heard of prior to viewing. Post-viewing, few would have believed that one of the world’s most iconic singers would ever again be able to stand before the world again and perform. Yet she did.
At the finale of the Olympics opening ceremony, Dion appeared on the Eiffel Tower and, in the rain, gave a stellar performance that many felt saved the event, her remarkable delivery adding a brilliance sorely lacking over the previous six hours.
It is not necessary to be a fan of the 56-year-old Canadian singer or her style of music to feel a profound respect for her after watching the documentary I Am: Celine Dion, which can be seen on Prime Video.
Directed by the American Irene Taylor, this is an up-close look at her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome: a rare, debilitating condition that affects one in every million people. She has endured it for years, before finally revealing it to the public.
The illness severely impacted her singing abilities and led to the cancellation of a European tour. This prompted Dion to choose to present her new reality: a woman grappling with the loss of what she considers her core identity: the ability to sing.
Without the gloss
Primarily filmed inside her home ion chose to appear in the documentary without makeup, both the literal makeup that conceals the signs of ageing, and the figurative makeup of polished, prepared phrases that her fans and business agents might prefer.
“But who is Celine Dion?” she asks in a moment of profound vulnerability that pervades the documentary’s narrative and overall tone.
“I let my voice lead me and followed it wherever it wanted,” she says wistfully, describing the maze she now finds herself in, where no voice guides her or determines her next steps.
The illness severely impacted her singing abilities and led to the cancellation of a European tour, prompting Dion to present her new reality
The disease meant that she can no longer control her body. This, she largely entrusts to a team of doctors and specialists.
The documentary meticulously showcases her life and career through archival footage from her childhood to the present, serves as a backdrop to her current narrative.
Singer Celine Dion performing on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024.
Dion's candid admissions about her tragic reality—often accompanied by tears that she cannot hold back—are juxtaposed with footage of her past glories: her vibrant performances, her interactions with the audience during live shows, and above all, her soaring voice reaching height few others ever could.
Highs and lows
Throughout the film, we witness a continuous contrast between her past and present, from gracing the world's stage to the collapse and betrayal of her body. In one of the most poignant segments, we see her wandering through a warehouse filled with the costumes, shoes, and accessories from her career.
The lights, glamour, and happy memories now seem like ruins as she reminisces about when she wore each outfit, passionately describing her relationship with them, because "every dress is a unique event".
This succinctly captures the lives and attitudes of the biggest stars; it is all part of the show, and 'the show must go on', as the famous phrase suggests. The decline of her body—due neither to ageing nor accident, but to a rare disease that affects the nerves and muscles—casts a shadow over that cliché.
An artist can endure frustration, sadness, hesitation, low self-confidence, and personal problems, but their own body's rebellion against them?
Life of a star
At the beginning of the documentary, Dion answers a question from her teenage son (who is the cinematographer) about which country she would like to visit. "You believe I've visited the whole world several times but haven't seen anything?"
It shows the lives of stars—which many envy for their apparent freedom, excitement, adventure, travel, and discovery—in a different light. As she points out, a star's life becomes dedicated to serving their stardom (in her case, through her voice), rather than the other way around.
Canadian singer Celine Dion poses for a selfie with fans, outside Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris hotel. Her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome was the focus of a recent documentary.
Even when away from the spotlight with her family, the pressure of fame persists. We see her struggling to prepare for childbirth in hospital, feeling the need to look her best "because the paparazzi will be there". Even in her most private and intimate moments, it seem she cannot fully escape her name.
The documentary's title, I Am: Celine Dion, is therefore insightful and expressive. It contrasts sharply with the straightforward phrase: "I am Celine Dion."
The title, derived from words Dion herself utters during the film, juxtaposes the 'I' against the name, each complementing the other without being identical.
The phrase 'I Am' in the title represents the tormented woman we see, someone who has family, fame, wealth, and history, but who lacks her present or a future. Both are tied to a voice she needs to learn to use again.
These most touching of moments in the documentary raise profound questions about art, fame, and identity. They highlight how life, with all its magnificence, can—for some—be suddenly reduced to the simple ability to stand or move freely.
Body's betrayal
The most painful scene in the documentary is a long scene at the end. We see Celine Dion challenging her voice problems, recording a new song over and over, attempt after attempt, until she finally achieves the sound she desires.
The intensity of it triggers a severe stiffening attack. Her medical team moves in and takes control, moving her from one position to another, administering medications. All the while, she remains unable to speak. Finally, eventually, she is back, albeit physically and mentally exhausted.
She has family, fame, wealth, and history, but lacks her present or a future. Both are tied to a voice she needs to learn to use again
The word 'hero' is repeatedly used by the therapist who is shown trying to lift her spirits during the attack, knowing that she can hear him but cannot respond.
The therapist later notes how Dion is fighting a fierce battle with her body and is on an arduous journey to regain both her voice and the ability to stand before an audience.
At the climax of the six-hour Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony, she appeared under the Olympic rings and sang Edith Piaf's timeless classic Hymn to Love.
Celine Dion performs under the famous rings on the Eiffel Tower at the end of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024.
It honoured the French legend and mirrored Dion's own journey over the past four years.
Through this moving song, Dion showcased her incredible voice once again, in a performance that shared her story and cast a ray of hope over an uncertain future.
The illness she suffers from is unlikely to be fully overcome. It is a case of managing it, rather than treating and curing it. In Dion's case, the illness will have to coexist with her immense passion and hunger for the stage and for singing.
