Amazing Grace

Directed by: Sydney Pollack

2018 | USA | 87 minutes

Music fans have been waiting almost half a century to see a storied documentary that many thought might never see the light of day: Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace. Originally directed by Sydney Pollack and completed by Alan Elliott, the film has been talked about since it was filmed in a Watts, California church in 1972 during the recording sessions for a live album of the same name. As a document of an iconic musician's skills, the film is essential. But Amazing Grace is far more than that: Watching it is a transcendent, spine-tingling, uplifting, utterly joyous experience. As cherished as the album version has been since its release, the film is nothing short of a revelation, soaring from one chill-inducing moment to another.

"Her voice could lift people straight out of their seats in jubilation; her vocal flourishes and deep readings of the simplest, most elemental lyrics remain incomparable." - Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

"It stands as a mighty historical document, a balm to the soul, and proof of genius." - Ty Burr, Boston Globe