Grace Dietz
Copy Editor
Viewers have the ability to see that not everything is luxurious in Taylor Swift’s life in her new documentary, “Miss Americana.” The film attempts to shed light on the less-glamorous side of fame for Swift.
Released on Jan. 31, “Miss Americana” is a documentary focused on the life of American singer-songwriter Swift. Lana Wilson directed the documentary, and it has become the highest-rated Netflix original biographical documentary film by an artist in IMDb history.
“Miss Americana” is a fantastic film, as it incorporates raw, genuine emotion from Swift about a significant transformational time period in her life. Swift brings viewers to tears as she expresses her wavering views on the music industry, politics and her own body image. Her powerful revelations of her past experiences inspire viewers to be themselves and find their voices.
The documentary chronicles Swift’s life from her early childhood, when she first fell in love with music, to the present day, as she continues her passion for singing and songwriting. Throughout the movie, Swift explains her past experiences and how they have changed her life for the better or worse, and viewers are able to hear firsthand how life as a popstar really is.
Swift is completely honest in her new documentary, and she bravely tells viewers how difficult it is to make it in the music industry. The film effectively documents the events that led her to stop seeking society’s approval in her personal and professional life. In one scene particularly, Swift completely breaks down from the pressure of her career, which surprises viewers. Swift’s powerful revelations passionately detail how her journey to stardom came at a price for her mental and physical health.
In the documentary, Swift tells audiences how difficult it was for her when her mother received her diagnosis of cancer, which brings viewers to tears almost immediately. According to Swift, her mother’s diagnosis encouraged her to re-evaluate her priorities and spend more time with her family. The genuine and uncensored emotions that Swift expresses about her mother’s situation allows viewers to see that the famous entertainer’s life is not perfect all the time, and she has to overcome serious situations like any other person.
Being a woman in the entertainment industry, Swift has had a hard time expressing her political opinions, as many people suggest that she should stick to singing only. In the past few years, Swift has made it clear that her political opinions will not be pushed aside, which is explained in the second half of the film. Her wish to challenge the patriarchy and a significantly flawed U.S. political system inspires viewers to be the best version of themselves.
A courageous revelation that Swift makes in the documentary involves her sexual assault case, involving a DJ who groped her during a photo shoot on the red carpet, according to the film. Soon after the shoot, the man was fired from his job and sued Swift, which she describes as a process that was “dehumanizing.” Swift is truly inspiring to other victims of sexual assault, as she reveals to them that there is hope for a better tomorrow as long as they speak their truth.
“Miss Americana” successfully shows the heartache and troubles that Swift’s fame entails. The inspirational documentary allows viewers to see the dark side of Swift’s “luxurious” life as a pop star, and the raw, uncensored realizations from the star herself make the film even more emotional. The movie suggests that in order to truly know an individual, one must put aside preconceived notions and stereotypes first.
Released on Jan. 31, “Miss Americana” is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
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