A wide range of emotions ran through the Théâtre Maisonneuve on Monday in Montreal, where the documentary I Am: Celine Dion was screened. A dose of excitement at the start of the evening, tears, laughter, as well as a momentary but profound disturbance during the screening, and lots and lots of empathy afterwards. All from admirers of the artist, who had found tickets for the occasion.
Nearly a hundred public figures attended the event, including Luc Plamondon, Fabienne Larouche, Nathalie Simard, Pierre Karl Péladeau, influencers and several drag queens. But none of them were as excited as Jonathan Faubert, a 42-year-old Montrealer who was eager to hear Céline Dion discuss – without filter or make-up – the rare and disabling syndrome that has kept her off stage for four years now.
“I can’t wait to see my idol,” he told us, his eyes watering, before going back to his seat.
Her partner, David Faubert, who had purchased passes to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, had high expectations for the 102-minute offering from Irene Taylor, the Emmy-winning American filmmaker. “I want to see the real Céline, the one we don’t always have the opportunity to see in interviews. »
Fearing the overwhelming emotion, Sabrina Perrone and Amanda Theodoropoulos, two 37-year-old Montrealers, came prepared. “We brought Kleenex,” Sabrina revealed, pointing to her purse. “Just seeing the trailer, I was already crying…”
Celine Dion may have been ultra-discreet since 2020, but her fans have not forgotten her. Some had come from very, very far away on Monday to attend the viewing. Among them is Natasha Perkins, a 35-year-old Vancouverite, winner of a competition organized by Prime Video, the Amazon platform which will release the feature film.
“I hope to get some insight into Céline’s experience. I hope to better understand what she has been going through for years,” said the woman who has listened to her songs on repeat since the album Falling Into You in 1996.
Estevam Peric had also traveled thousands of kilometers for Celine Dion, but a few years earlier. Born in Brazil, this superfan discovered the songs of Charlemagne’s star while taking English lessons. “She inspired me so much that I ended up learning French and immigrating to Quebec,” he said. I even managed to buy my house in Charlemagne, his hometown. And I drove a car with a license plate that had his first name on it. »
Like all the Celine Dion admirers we spoke with, Natasha Perkins and Estevam Peric firmly believe that the Quebec icon will return to the stage.
“Overnight there will be an announcement of a new show,” said the second. She’s amazing, my Celine Dion! »
Same story with Sandra Majchrzak and Nahla Abdelhamid, two 33-year-old admirers. “Céline, she’s my girl,” said Nahla. I would love to see her perform. »
The arrival of the documentary I Am: Celine Dion on Prime Video, scheduled for June 25, will come at the end of a major media blitz. In recent weeks, the singer has “broken the silence” on several occasions: in the French edition of Vogue magazine, in an interview with Hoda Kotb at NBC, with Adrienne Arsenault at CBC, with Jean-Philippe Dion at TVA, etc. .
This avalanche of “heart-to-heart” interviews has not dampened the enthusiasm of fans. “We all know the expression “no news is good news”… but for Céline, it was different,” commented Hélène Langlais Fortin, an admirer from Boischatel, a suburb of Quebec. “It wasn’t normal, this total silence. It was worrying. This suggested that she was not doing well, because she has always been an open book with her fans. »
“We are happy to finally have the truth,” continued his sister, Nicole Langlais.
Preceded by a welcome speech from Sonia Benezra and a speech from Celine Dion, broadcast live from New York, the screening seemed to leave no one indifferent. At times, we could hear sobs, people wiping away tears. At others, great bursts of laughter.
Leaving the Théâtre Maisonneuve, several fans were still upset by the excerpt of extreme vulnerability from Céline Dion. “I wasn’t able to see the final scene, I lowered my head,” admitted Estevam Peric. It’s super upsetting, but I know she’s doing better. It relieves me. »
Also shaken, Jonathan Faubert was happy to have watched a documentary of “great authenticity”.
“I would have liked to take Céline in my arms,” said Hélène Langlais Fortin. I felt all his suffering and I am very moved by it. »
For her part, Natasha Perkins spoke of a film with a “powerful” message: no matter what life throws at us, we must keep moving forward. “But it was horrible to see Céline in pain like that. »
