LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� In concert film, she describes her recent Renaissance World Tour as being run like a machine: From lighting to set design, the superstar had a hand in everything production-related to ensure her stadium tour exceeded expectations after four years of preparation.
As a perfectionist, Beyonc茅 was tirelessly determined 鈥� working almost 50 days straight 鈥� to create an epic concert experience. This becomes clear in her movie 鈥淩enaissance: A Film by Beyonc茅,鈥� which chronicles the massive tour in support of her seventh studio .
Written, directed and produced by Beyonc茅, 鈥淩enaissance鈥� perfectly captures her dazzling performances for the big screen and includes some intimate behind-the-scenes footage from the normally private singer, who has rarely done interviews in the past decade.
Beyonc茅 released her nearly three-hour 鈥淩enaissance鈥� movie through AMC Theaters in similar fashion as the 鈥� 鈥� film, which . But unlike Swift, whose project primarily focused on her onstage performances, Beyonc茅 offers more insight into her personal life.
鈥淚'm really excited for everyone to see the process,鈥� she says in the film.
With 鈥淩enaissance,鈥� Beyonc茅 displays more of her human side like in her 2019 which delved into the singer headlining the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. This time, she goes a step further into her story as arguably music's hardest-working performer, who attempts to juggle being a mother of three while she maintains her mental and physical fortitude during her tour.
Beyonc茅 expressed frustration with challenges to her lofty aspirations for her tour and felt she wasn鈥檛 being heard because she鈥檚 a Black woman. The tour ultimately grossed around $500 million, according to Billboard. She opens up about having surgery on her knee, which forced her into rehabilitation a month before her first opening show in .
Unlike her tour, Beyonc茅 confesses, she's 鈥渘ot a machine.鈥�
But through her aches and pains, Beyonc茅 鈥� 鈥� showed up and performed at a very high level. It's what she demanded of herself and others who mirrored her mentality to make each show come into fruition.
The film showcases a few big-name performers who accompanied Beyonc茅 onstage, including Megan Thee Stallion in Houston. , Kendrick Lamar was a special guest along with Diana Ross, who sang to Beyonc茅 for her 42nd birthday.
But out of all the celebrity appearances, the one who stole the show was Beyonc茅's 11-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, who made her presence felt as a background dancer. Initially, the singer was opposed to pushing Blue into the limelight of performing in front of tens of thousands.
鈥淪he told me she was ready to perform, and I told her no,鈥� Beyonc茅 says in the film.
She eventually agreed to give her daughter one chance to show her stuff. Her first performance, however, was subjected to heavy criticism on social media. But Blue Ivy used that to train harder. She gained confidence as the tour progressed and gained more standing ovations each time she hit the stage.
Blue Ivy's growth brought joy to Beyonc茅 and to Mathew Knowles, the proud grandfather who is shown saying, 鈥淣ow, that's a Knowles!鈥�
During a stop in Houston, Beyonc茅 along with her mother, Tina Knowles, drove around her old Third Ward neighborhood before they stopped by her childhood home. The return to her hometown marked another reunion between Beyonc茅 and all the members of the girl group Destiny's Child 鈥� which included Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, who was once ousted from the group.
Now, it appears there's peace among them. There were no words exchanged on camera except for a collective hug, which Beyonc茅 called during her narration a 鈥渘ew birth for us. A lot of healing.鈥�
Beyonc茅 along with her mother shared heartfelt moments of the singer's late uncle Johnny 鈥� a Black gay man who introduced her to house music as a child and made her a prom dress. She dedicated the 鈥淩enaissance鈥� album to him.
The film squeezes in Beyonc茅's appreciation for her devoted Beyhive fanbase who are often shown in the audience in various cities. During her shows, she expresses her gratitude for them, calling them 鈥渂eautiful faces.鈥�
Despite the presence of jams like 鈥淎lien Superstar,鈥� 鈥淐hurch Girl鈥� and 鈥淐uff It,鈥� not every song performed on tour made the cut for the film.
And that's just fine. 鈥淩enaissance鈥� is more about getting a glimpse into Beyonc茅's life 鈥� even for just a little bit.
鈥淩enaissance: A Film by Beyonc茅,鈥� an AMC release, is not rated. Running time: 168 minutes. Four stars out of four.
Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press
