(spoiler free)
Forty years ago Cyndi Lauper released her debut album She’s So Unusual, and throughout her long and varied career since, the iconic American singer has certainly lived up to this title. Consistently marching to the beat of her own drum and exploring a wide range of creative projects over her years in show business, the eccentric star’s latest endeavour sees her as the subject of Alison Ellwood’s new documentary, Let the Canary Sing.
Ellwood’s film offers audiences an extensive look at Lauper’s illustrious career, from her hit single “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” to her later success with Kinky Boots on Broadway, and everything else before, after and in-between too! It’s more than just a whistle-stop tour though, as it gives viewers a genuine insight into the obstacles Lauper has faced and the creative choices she hasn’t been willing to compromise on. And rather than just simply celebrating her, through its detailed retrospective Let the Canary Sing candidly begins to reveal the woman behind the famous voice.
This is of course enhanced by featuring Lauper herself, who offers a thoroughly entertaining commentary on her own life, with each story further highlighting just why she’s such a worthy subject for this kind of film. Her testimony is supported by a range of other talking heads style interviews with her family, those she’s worked with and other industry talent. Of the latter, Billy Porter and Patti LaBelle especially earn their keep, bringing a sense of fun and flair to the proceedings that feels characteristic of Lauper too. This liveliness that they contribute is prevalent throughout much of the documentary too. Lauper’s career lends itself to this spirited tone, and her comedic anecdotes are a joy to listen to, giving the film a refreshingly ebullient tone amidst many more procedural pop-star documentaries. Let the Canary Sing confidently captures just how funny Lauper is, adopting her humour for the film to great effect.
However, the film isn’t afraid to tackle the more sensitive areas of Lauper’s life either, demonstrating its capabilities to have you laughing one minute and crying the next. The accounts of her upbringing are frank, the manner in which it addresses the less-successful times in her career are honest, and the inclusion of other areas of her personal life are surprisngly poignant. In particular, the film’s discussion of Lauper’s activism and her queer allyship is excellent, outlining lesser-known examples from throughout her career. It rightfully awards Lauper her flowers for her tireless work in these areas and they prove to be an enlightening addition to the film, especially for audiences who may only known the major hits of her career.
The film’s all-encompassing reflection of Lauper’s vivacious life is stitched together with a wonderful edit, using a compelling selection of performance clips, interviews, and even in some places, animation. Delivering a finely-tuned finished product, Ellwood’s film succeeds both as an in-depth exploration of Lauper’s impressive body of work, but also as a showcase for her unique and personal approach to her own artistry. This multifaceted perspective ultimately allows Let the Canary Sing to truly spread its cinematic wings and will see it soar straight into the adoring hearts of new and existing fans alike.
Written by Hamish Calvert
★★★★
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