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Dear Ann,

I can’t believe I haven’t shared this one before: the amazing documentary film—“Amazing Grace.” I watched it for the first time several months ago, and I’m watching it again this weekend.

It was filmed in 1972 in a South Los Angeles church, over the course of two evenings, but the film was not released until 2018.

It documents Aretha Franklin recording a live album of the sacred music she grew up on, with an incredible choir.

The audience is churchgoers, family members, and a smattering of celebrities.

The film gives the viewer many different kinds of shivers, but especially the one that comes with the sharp memory of the beauty of a time and a place—a world—that has passed away.

Aretha Franklin’s singing—and her face, when she’s just standing there, waiting—make the knees go weak. Her carriage, her stillness, the sense of the enormity that the moment holds for her.

There are some fun cameo appearances in the audience. They almost don’t matter except as a glimpse into collective memory and how things were, in that moment.

The film received accolades all over the place when it came out in 2018, but somehow I don’t think enough people know about it or have seen it. Get it from the library, rent it on Amazon Prime—but see it.

Love,

Kay

10 Comments

  • I had no idea when I stumbled/landed into this website (curplat!*) that I was being led to my soul sisters in kind. This day, this documentary, this time; there are no coincidences. Thank you, Thank you.

  • Thank yoy!

  • GRACEed to have seen it, heard it, and renewed in that GRACE through your note! What days they were!

  • I am a fan of Aretha Franklin and always have been and always will be, but I did not know about this documentary. i do not watch TV match or watch movies which is the reason I am sure. I appreciate all the books and videos suggestions. Thank you very much.

  • Wow!!! The trailer alone is uplifting and electrifying. There was no one like Aretha, gone from us all too soon. Thank you for bringing this to us.

  • Her voice has always touched me and thank you for bringing this to our attention

  • Adore! Adoration! Amazing! Even though there’s barely dialogue, the characters of the music director, the choir director, and others are intriguing right along with Aretha’s singing.

  • I love this documentary so much! I watched it on the plane last summer! It is definitely a gem!!! Thank you!

  • An incredible film. Seeing it in the theater was great, but I”m sure it would be equally moving on TV.

  • I agree with Sarah (and all others) below. I was about ready to blast out of high school into the wide world in ’72. So many lessons learned since then! In this blog and commenters I feel like I have found a thoughtful, joyful tribe… like the music from this iconic artist, showcased in the film. But, how in the HECK do you knit to it? I had to put down the knitting and just watch! Lol!

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