Whitney: Can I Be Me

Whitney: Can I Be Me is an intimate and insightful documentary film released in 2017 that probes into the life of the global music icon that was Whitney Houston. Directed by Nick Broomfield and Rudi Dolezal and featuring Whitney herself, alongside critical personalities such as Michael Baker and Wayne Lindsey, the film travels the turbulent journey that marked Houston's life, career, and eventual demise.

Born into the gospel huddle of Newark, New Jersey, Whitney Houston's journey to global stardom wasn't just a tale of talent meeting opportunity. As the film underlines, her life and career were sensitive cultural narratives handled with great scrutiny. The documentary presents how the expectations from her demographic, the relentless spotlight of fame, and the constant struggle to secure her identity weighed heavily on her, impacting both her personal life and her career.

Whitney: Can I Be Me presents a powerful persona yet a vulnerable human side of Whitney. Through interviews with her close-knit group, archives from her past, and footage from her concerts, primarily focusing on her 1999 world tour, the film gives audiences a personal perspective on the singer. The documentary encapsulates her rise from a church choir girl to one of the most popular artists in the world, selling millions of records and inspiring myriad singers across generations.

The footage from the 1999 world tour offers candid insights into Houston's state of mind and lifestyle. Michael Baker, her drummer, and Wayne Lindsey, the keyboardist, shed light on the buzzing energy and encompassing aura that Houston possessed. They also provide unique perspectives on her conflicts and struggles, particularly in the later phases of her career.

The pressures of stardom and the constant demand to be flawless spurred a tension between Whitney's personal identity and her public persona. The dichotomy is evident in the title itself, "Can I Be Me." It is this desire to hold onto herself amidst the tumultuous landscape of fame and scrutiny that forms the crux of this poignant documentary.

By digging into the layers of her strained relationships, her widened cultural divides, and the tragic spiral into drugs, this film dodges the regular route of celebrating her accolades. Instead, it humanizes her, urging us to understand her struggles that coexisted with her stardom. The narrative also subtly scrutinizes the music industry's system, which often prioritizes profit over artist well-being.

Displaying unseen video footage of the artist, comprising mostly of Dolezal's recordings of Houston's '99 tour, the documentary convinces the audience to look beyond Whitney Houston, the star. The film enforces the realization that Houston was also a human — a person, a woman, sensitive and susceptible to pressures, pain, and substances that brought her relief, however short-lived.

The constant companionship of her best friend, Robyn Crawford, and the unraveling of her tumultuous relationship with Bobby Brown add depth to Whitney's narrative. However, these relationships aren't dealt with in the gossip-hungry sensationalism that usually accompanies celebrity stories. Instead, they're depicted with a sensitivity that underlines Houston's quest for solace and companionship.

While Houston's music punctuates the film, the documentary doesn't get ensnared in the trap of playing her hits to elicit a nostalgic response. Rather, it uses her zeitgeist-defining songs strategically to echo the corresponding phases of Whitney's life and stardom, making it a truly defining soundtrack of her life's progress.

Whitney: Can I Be Me profoundly paints a portrait of a superstar who was caught in the unyielding gears of fame and expectations. It forces us to address the paradox that exists between our relentless consumption of stars and our unwillingness to acknowledge their humanity.

The film, in its gentle and careful handling of Houston's story, serves as a stark reminder of the beauty and tragedy of the iconic singer's life. It's a must-watch for Houston's fans and for anyone fascinated by the lurid glamour and the unflinching truth of the music industry.