We love documentaries for one thing and one thing only- they give us a privileged behind-the-scenes access to the lives of some of our favorite celebrities. They provide these stars with a platform to tell their own stories with their own voice. This, in itself, is the beauty of documentaries. It is why when I saw that Love, Lizzo was airing on Showmax, I knew I just had to watch it.
Lizzo has always been a personal fave- not just because of all we share as two big black women in a society that terribly politicizes every aspect of our identities. Rather, there was something in me that resonated so deeply with her, and up until today, I had no idea. But now, after finally watching this documentary, I know what it is. It’s resilience. Strength. Love. Genuine cheer and light. Lizzo is the light she thinks she is and even more.
In this documentary, Lizzo, or should I say, Melissa, begins her story with her background, a young girl from Detroit, who never fit into the definitions of beauty standards no matter how she tried. Believe it or not, she was the quirky nerd in glasses, who wanted nothing more than to be back in her room holed up with a book. But Lizzo soon decided it was time for a whole revamp- it was time to stop hiding behind the books and time to finally- SHINE!
Her flute, Sasha marked the beginning of her love for music. From the school band recital, to having her own bands until she finally went solo, Lizzo came up the ladder of success in steady sure steps. Her father, who unfortunately passed away when she was 20, was a huge source of motivation and inspiration for her during his time on earth. He pushed her to be the best version of herself, he pushed her to be a star. She came from him. She had to be a star.
And seeing as you’re reading this, I must say she achieved all she set out to achieve. She came, she saw, she conquered and she still is conquering. Love, Lizzo is all shades of honesty, vulnerability, openness, genuineness, and everything that Lizzo is.
Through this documentary, Lizzo does not pretend to be everyone’s cup of tea. Rather, she says with her booming voice, “This is who I am. I’m not changing for anyone. Do you accept me or not?”
Have you seen Love, Lizzo yet?
Let do you think of her and her documentaries?
Tell us in the comments!
