Dion has suffered from stiff person syndrome since 2022. The documentary brings her daily struggle closer.
“I Am: Céline Dion,” a documentary about Céline Dion, will soon be shown on Amazon Prime Video. However, the focus will not be on her musical career, but on her illness – the Canadian suffers from stiff person syndrome.
To provide rare insights into her daily hurdles, Oscar-nominated director Irene Taylor (“The Final Inch”) accompanied the singer. There is currently no release date. Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, described the film as a “raw, intimate portrayal.”
The challenges of Celine Dion
After Dion was diagnosed with stiff person in 2022, she decided to publicize her personal struggles with this previously rarely publicly discussed condition. The musician said on Instagram: “The last few years have been a big challenge for me. The journey from discovering my illness to learning to live with it and deal with it without letting it control me.” She went on to describe how she realized how much she missed seeing her fans. The 55-year-old explained: “During this absence I decided to document this part of my life. And in doing so, to try to raise awareness of this little-known disease in order to help others who share this diagnosis.”
“I Am: Céline Dion” is also intended to reflect the artist’s determination to return to the stage despite health difficulties. The singer’s past is also highlighted. Irene Taylor captured the star with her camera for more than a year.
Tour postponements 2023 and 2024
Since announcing her diagnosis in December 2022, Dion has had to cancel her “Courage World Tour” concert dates in Europe planned for 2023 and 2024. At the time, she explained in a video on social media how the muscle cramps affected not only her stage presence, but also her everyday life.
Her sister Claudette Dion gave an update on the multiple Grammy winner’s health in December 2023: “She works hard, but she has no control over her muscles,” she told Canada’s “7 Jours.” Nevertheless, the dream of both the musician and her family remains to be able to perform live again. However, it is currently unclear how realistic this is.
More about Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS)
Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurological disorder. It is incurable and affects the central nervous system. SPS is noticeable through persistent, uncontrollable and painful muscle stiffness and cramps, especially in the back and leg areas. The causes of the autoimmune disease are not yet fully known.