“I Am: Céline Dion,” set to be released by Amazon-MGM, will delve into a singular year in the life of the singer of “My Heart Will Go On” as she navigates and confronts challenging circumstances.
“The past few years have been a challenge for me, a journey from discovering my condition to learning how to face and manage it, but not letting it define me,” Dion expressed.
“As the path to continue my acting career unfolds, I realize how much I miss being able to connect with my fans,” the performer of ‘My Heart Will Go On’ added.
“During this absence, I decided I wanted to document this part of my life to assist others with the same diagnosis,” Dion added. She also expressed her hope that the film would “raise awareness of this lesser-known condition.”
Stiff person syndrome is an autoimmune and neurological disorder that causes stiffness in the torso and limbs. Symptoms also include muscle spasms, impacting Dion’s ability to sing and perform, and can be triggered by environmental stimuli (such as loud noises) or emotional stress.
The official logline for this new film describes I Am: Céline Dion as “an emotional, energetic, and poetic love letter to music.”
The film is directed by Irene Taylor, who earned an Oscar nomination in 2009 for her short documentary “The Final Inch,” focusing on efforts to eradicate polio.
Last December, Dion’s sister, Claudette, provided an update on the singer’s debilitating experience with stiff person syndrome. “She works hard, but she can’t control her muscles,” Claudette Dion told 7 Jours Canada. “What breaks my heart is she’s always disciplined. She always works hard. Our mother always told her, ‘You will do well, you will do it right.'”
In May 2023, Dion was forced to cancel the remaining dates of her world tour. The Canadian musician stated at that time that she was “working very hard to rebuild my strength.”
“I apologize for disappointing you all once again,” said Celine Dion. “It’s not fair to keep postponing shows, and although it breaks my heart, we better cancel everything now until I am truly ready to return to the stage.”
The release date for this documentary film has not been announced.
The onset of Celine Dion’s Stiff-Person Syndrome
The origin of Celine Dion’s illness traces back to late December 2022 when she disclosed the cancellation of several concerts due to health issues. During this announcement, she revealed that she was diagnosed with the rare condition known as Stiff-Person Syndrome, characterized by early symptoms of muscle spasms.
“On December 8, 2022, I shared that while we are still in the process of understanding this rare condition, it has been identified as Stiff-Person Syndrome, causing the spasms I have been experiencing,” Dion shared on her Instagram page.
“Regrettably, these spasms have a profound impact on every aspect of my daily life, at times making walking challenging and preventing me from utilizing my vocal cords for singing as I normally would,” she added.
Following her revelation, Celine Dion underwent a series of treatments to address her condition. Unfortunately, Stiff-Person Syndrome also affected her ability to use her vocal cords.
As of May 2023, reports indicated that Celine Dion had not yet regained sufficient strength to return to the stage due to the ongoing challenges posed by Stiff-Person Syndrome.
“I am diligently working with my sports medicine therapists every day to rebuild my strength and regain my ability to perform,” she stated.
