Parents' Guide to

I Am: Celine Dion

By Jennifer Green, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Singer suffers medical crises in film about illness, career.

Movie PG 2024 102 minutes
I Am: Celine Dion movie poster: The singer up close.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • I Am: Celine Dion: The singer strikes a pose.
  • I Am: Celine Dion: The singer in profile.
  • I Am: Celine Dion: The singer in an interview.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Brett M.
Brett M. Parent of 6, 12 and 14-year-old
July 12, 2024
age 10+

Accidental portrayal of mental illness in the performing arts

This documentary comes across as unintentionally fascinating for a few different reasons. I assume the filmmaker is striving to present Celine in a positive light; specifically portraying her as a dedicated artist who is struggling to overcome a debilitating medical condition while her passion for her music remains a steady beacon of hope for herself as well as her fans. The film gives us an intimate glimpse into her current family life while also drawing from her early years as the youngest child in a family of 16. But despite all the makings of a traditional 'hero's journey' set-up, this film seems to accidentally portray a subtler, more sobering story. At 56 years of age, with a wealth of life experience behind her, Celine herself is rarely observed bequeathing any real sense of wisdom or personal grasp of life's meaning. She spends the majority of the film bemoaning her circumstances while openly longing for the days when she was an actively-working celebrity. It is interesting to see flashbacks of her making honest claims about her addiction to being on stage, at one even making a comment to the effect of "it's not about the song; it's about the performance." While we truly do empathize with Celine's medical condition, it is nevertheless difficult to watch two hours of a highly-talented performer caught in a psychologically frozen state when, arguably, we would love to see this accomplished woman demonstrate more maturity and spiritual resilience in the face of her life-altering trial. And while her music is truly an inspiration for many people across the globe, it nevertheless becomes a sad realization that her profound work ethic may have actually contributed to the demise of her health. One can't help but feel sorry for her (not to mention for her children who, ironically, seem quite distanced from her in the film) as she speaks endlessly of her intention to fight through her illness in order to "crawl" if needs be, back to the very stage.
Katherine R.
Katherine R. Parent of 10, 14, 18+, 18+, 18+ and 5-year-old
June 28, 2024
age 14+

See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

International superstar Celine Dion stepped away from the stage in 2023, announcing that she suffered from a rare neurological disorder called Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS). I AM: CELINE DION lets the singer explain that difficult decision and shows the effects of SPS in visual detail. Dion welcomes the camera into her home as she goes through physical therapy and lives daily life with her sons. She doesn't leave the house often, and she isn't able to perform. It's unclear whether she will ever sing again, a reality she confronts in interviews and at painful recording sessions.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

There's no denying that what Celine Dion is going through is terribly taxing, and this documentary explains in spades why she's disappeared from the international spotlight. It's quite difficult to watch the singer spasming into near paralysis -- I Am: Celine Dion begins with a viewer-discretion advisory about "powerful scenes of medical trauma." There are two shocking scenes of this, and there's much discussion online about the decision to film through the crises and include them in the documentary. Throughout the film, Dion appears make-up free, tired, and weepy. The exception is when she needs to record cheerful greetings for others or she's spending snippets of time with her sons. A melancholy score is woven throughout.

Around the 20-minute mark, Dion takes the cameras on a tour of a warehouse full of couture clothing and designer shoes and other memorabilia, and she brags about fitting her feet into shoes that didn't fit. Home video footage is spliced in soon after showing a very pregnant Dion complaining in front of a closet with seemingly hundreds of shoes that she doesn't have the right pair to wear. It's just one example of where the editing allows for a subtle critique of its subject, intentionally or not. It's hard to deny Dion's privilege or the fact that she has enjoyed more success and lived a fuller life than most. This isn't the film or the moment for gratitude or celebration of what has been. Yet surely her family and fans want to see her well, with or without future concerts.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the impact of seeing Dion suffer spasms and temporary paralysis in I Am: Celine Dion. What do you think about the decision to include these crises in the film? Would the film have had a different impact on you if they had not been included?

  • What is Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS)? Where can you go for more information?

  • Did you feel you got to know Dion better in this film? Why or why not? Did your opinion of her change in any way? How so?

  • In what ways does Dion show courage in this film?

Movie Details

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