Celine Dion’s new documentary, I am: Celine Dion—now streaming on Amazon’s Prime Video—is, to say the least, a tough watch to watch. In fact, much of the film is nothing short of devastating. But fortunately, there are some moments of much-needed levity, like the scene in which Dion berates her children like any mother would.
Directed by Irene Taylor (Watch out for Slenderman, the last centimeter), this intimate documentary offers viewers a raw, honest, and sometimes uncomfortable look at Dion’s struggle with her rare neurological disorder, stiff person syndrome, or SPS, which forced the renowned singer to cancel her residency. In Las Vegas. . It couldn’t be clearer that Dion is in excruciating pain, both inside and out. More than once, viewers will see Dion endure an episode of SPS, in which her muscles lock up and she moans in pain, on camera. But Taylor also captures the sweet moments. One of those moments comes when Dion and her two 13-year-old twin sons, Eddy and Nelson, make a video for “Get Well” for her butler who has contracted COVID.
For some reason (perhaps related to an inside joke), Dion has her kids draw faces on the surface of shelled coconuts. While he is sitting on the couch to film the video, one of his sons starts picking hairs off the coconut shell, leaving them all over the floor. In a moment of pure, relatable parenting, Dion berates his son for making a mess.
“Stop peeling! “I’m going to make you vacuum,” Dion tells him.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he replies.
“Don’t be sorry,” Dion responds, in a voice that anyone who has a mother will know. “Do not do it”.
“It’s just a little bit,” his son responds.
Later, in true mother fashion, we see Dion herself vacuuming up the coconut hairs. Turns out she was an empty threat!
It’s silly, but it’s a moment that allows the audience to identify with Dion. She may be an international best-selling superstar (and she may be currently dealing with a very rare and devastating neurological disease), but she is also a mother like any other mother.
I am: Celine Dion is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, free to anyone with an Amazon Prime subscription.