Given its roots as a music festival, it is no surprise that the SXSW film festival continues to be at the forefront of music documentaries. Even in 2021 – when the festival took place entirely online – SXSW was home to the world premieres of high-profile music documentaries on Demi Lovato and Tom Petty. So it should come as no surprise that 2022 has another impressive lineup of music docs, not least of which “Sheryl,” an exploration of the life of singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow.
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The trailer promises fans a mixture of archival and contemporary performances, with plenty of sit-downs with Crow herself to help frame the ups and downs of her storied career. As one of the first great musical celebrities of the millennium, Crow’s career also offers a unique parallel for our changing societal beliefs about politics, gender, and stardom. If nothing else, it’s also a sign of the changing times – and our increased access to recording technology in the 21st Century – that producers seem to have their pick of archival footage.
Quick eyes may also recognize the credit for director Amy Scott, whose sole previous director credit came in the Hal Ashby documentary, “Hal.” In 2018, we described “Hal” as a film that used “well-sourced testimonials and convincing arguments to prop up a cinematic legend,” but noted that Scott might have dug a bit deeper into the controversies surrounding her subject matter. In a film like ‘Sheryl’ – where the subject is often mired in controversies not of her own making – Scott may find a great fit for her approach to media legacy.
Here’s the full synopsis, courtesy of Showtime:
An intimate story of song and sacrifice—musically gifted superstar Sheryl Crow navigates an iconic yet arduous musical career battling sexism, ageism, depression, cancer, and the price of fame, before harnessing the power of her gift.
“Sheryl” will premiere Friday, May 6, on SHOWTIME and its streaming platform.
