The wait is at its height for Céline Dion’s admirers, plunged into confusion and worry since their idol announced that he was suffering from stiff person syndrome. The documentary I am: Celine Dionwhich comes out on June 25, promises to answer all their questions – or almost all – by lifting the veil on his daily fight against illness. The duty met fans who make this coming out of the shadows an event.
“Just the trailer alone, I found it upsetting. We see Céline vulnerable, fragile, crying. There is no question of watching the documentary alone. We’re going to watch it with friends,” says Mario Bennett, in a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
In recent weeks, the 38-year-old has not missed a single interview linked to the release of the documentary which will be screened in Cineplex cinemas from Friday to Sunday, before landing on the Prime Video platform on Tuesday.
It must be said that Mario Bennett has been an admirer from the start. Since the age of 12, his love for Charlemagne’s star has only grown. He never misses an opportunity to see her on TV, he knows her songs by heart and has seen her in concert 13 times. “His voice accompanies me every day. I listen to his music to relax, dance, cry, think, do housework…” he says. This is without mentioning his impressive collection of objects bearing his image. Records, cups, key rings, sweaters, magazines: his Montreal apartment has been transformed into a museum, in homage to his idol.
To say he can’t wait to hear from her is an understatement. “I want to understand what’s going on with her illness, I want to know if she’s doing well,” he asks.
Years of silence
The international star has been discreet in recent years. Before the interview blitz surrounding the release of I am: Celine Dionit had been four years since she last appeared on stage and gave an interview.
Already in 2018, we guessed the interpreter of My Heart Will Go On tired after a series of concert cancellations due to “a throat virus”. At the end of 2022, Celine Dion finally announced that she was suffering from stiff person syndrome, a disease causing muscle rigidity and painful spasms.
Since this announcement, it has been radio silence. A situation which, in addition to raising concern among fans, fueled the gossip press which speculated extensively on his illness, with some even announcing his death.
It was to silence these rumors and reconnect with her fans that the 56-year-old singer approached director Irene Taylor. Its 102-minute feature film offers an intimate portrait of Céline Dion, lifting the veil on her daily fight against illness and her enormous efforts to, one day, return to the stage.
A member of the family
It is precisely the fact of finally having news of him after this silence surrounding his illness which makes this new documentary so long awaited, notes Eugénie Lépine-Blondeau. “Can she still sing?” Will she return to the stage? Is she okay? The fans need to know, to understand,” argues the cultural columnist and great admirer of the Quebec diva. “We are also looking forward to hearing him tell his story and rediscovering his authenticity which has been his signature throughout his career until now. »
Believing that this great return of Céline Dion is an event in itself, Eugénie Lépine-Blondeau organized a public viewing of the documentary next Tuesday, at L’ideal bar in Montreal. “I think it’s important to experience it collectively,” she believes.
Drag queen Bobépine, who has personified Céline Dion for five years, shares her opinion. “In Quebec, we saw Céline grow, climb, shiner. She’s a bit like our great-niece that we’re proud of. Céline is family. And when a member of your family is sick, you come together to support her and to experience this difficult moment as a group. »
Bobépine plans to go – dressed as Céline Dion of course – to the District Video Lounge which is also organizing a public viewing on Tuesday in the Village. In fact, this will be the second time that the drag queen has watched the feature film, since she was lucky enough to snag a ticket for the Montreal premiere last Monday.
“I’m going to need to see this documentary at least three, four, five times. I took out my Kleenex the first time, I missed some bits. […] I don’t think anyone was really aware of what Céline was going through and it’s going to take us a while to get over it,” she confides.
Soon on stage?
Now, the question that remains on everyone’s lips: will Celine Dion sing at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games?
The rumor has been circulating for weeks. The question was obviously asked Monday evening, during the premiere of the documentary in New York. His answer ? “You have come so far. This is the first time I’ve ever walked in heels. So, did you go to Paris? Maybe we’ll wait a little bit,” she replied vaguely.
But whether in Paris or Las Vegas, in two months or five years, Celine Dion has promised that she will return to the stage, even if she has to “crawl”. “I work really hard. It will happen. I don’t have the exact date. Maybe I couldn’t do five days of show per week [mais] I’ll see you on stage soon,” she said during her interview with host Jean-Philippe Dion, broadcast on TVA Sunday evening — and which also brought together more than a million Quebecers in front of the screen.
Of course, Mario Bennett would dream of seeing Celine Dion in concert again. But “is it really necessary if she is no longer able to sing, if going back on stage makes her suffer? he questions. The important thing is that she is healthy, that she feels good.”
An opinion shared by other admirers interviewed by The duty. Many still maintain hope of a return to song, perhaps in a different way. “Why not a more intimate formula, with simple orchestration and staging that allows him to sing his songs, even on a stool, if necessary? » suggests Eugénie Lépine-Blondeau. “I think the public will always be there. I, as her song says, will go where she goes. »
