Taylor Swift is truly a phenomenon like no other – she isn't just another pretty pop singer. She is a talented musician --- something of a prodigy --- and also a really nice person it would seem. The new Netflix film about her musical personal journey is of course a must-watch for her fans. It is also a very interesting watch otherwise.
Taylor Swift fans or Swifties as they call themselves, had been waiting for the release of Miss Americana on Netflix.
The film contains a lot of footage from home videos of Taylor Swift: performing as a little girl, receiving her first guitar on Christmas, and other such endearing glimpses into a remarkable life.
The film does, of course, do everything to humanize the star. It also charts her political journey: from remaining quiet – because she was always told don’t be like the Dixie Chicks – to publicly taking a stand against illiberal policies and politicians.
She confesses how she always tried to be the ‘good girl’ everyone expected her to be; how she derived all her validation from the approval of others.
Yes, the film speaks about Kanye West grabbing the mike when she received the VMA and the impact this had on her 17-year-old self. She speaks about people saying she was ‘over’ about her playing the ‘victim’, about how she ‘disappeared’ for a year.
David Mueller groped her, she complained and he was fired. He then sued her for millions of dollars; she countersued for one dollar. She speaks about the dehumanising experience of this as well.
In this film, Swift opens up about the people and the circumstances that caused her pain. Her struggle with food, the criticism she received for never being the ‘right’ size. This resulted in at least one public apology after the release of the film.
Fans are going to love listening to snatches of all her songs; the creative process and the dizzying success of Taylor Swift the phenomenon.
One does want to applaud when she finally comes out with her political views; when she talks about the Trump famously liking her music “25% less”.
In this film, Swift comes across not so much as self-indulgent as self-aware. One finds new insight into the whole phenomenon of being a ‘Swiftie’.
Hearing snatches of her biggest hits, getting to witness the creative process of songwriting and composition are interesting to watch. The film also adroitly brings out the utter loneliness of being this big a star.
Check out the trailer of Miss Americana – the story of Taylor Swift that is also a quintessentially American success story. Emmy winning director Lana Wilson directs the film that is worth the watch for fans and for anyone interested in the phenomenon of the birth and life of superstars – also if one is interested in the evolution of a gentle but steadfast feminist.
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