20 Feet from StardomCERT 12 | USA | 2013 | 91 MIN | DOCUMENTARY, MUSIC

CrewWritten and Directed by Morgan Neville

Cinematography Nicola Marsh, Graham Willoughby

CastDarlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer

SynopsisMillions know their voices, but no one knows their names. In his compelling new Oscar winning film 20 Feet from Stardom, director Morgan Neville shines a spotlight on the untold true story of the backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of the 21st century.

Awards2014 Oscar for Best Documentary; Grammy for Best Music Film

ReviewsInvestigating the unbridgeable gulf between the back and front of the stage, Morgan Neville concludes that talent and stardom may not be intertwined, as each of his interviewees wrestles group dynamics and personal ambition. A sharply cut early montage neatly establishes gospel singing as the bedrock of the blues and beyond, with conversation often slipping spontaneously into song. Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Bette Midler et al offer insight into the music business while Sting witters about "spirituality", but it's the likes of Darlene Love who are the real stars here. The result is joyous and uplifting.

★ ★ ★ ★ Mark Kermode, Guardian

Success as a backing singer is inherently bittersweet – everyone hears you, but no-one’s heard of you – so it’s cosmically satisfying when performers like Love are given the recognition their talents merit.

The film stays focused on the records and the women who sang on them, with wise and warm observations from the men who benefitted. But beneath its upbeat melody line, much else is going on, social and racial as well as musical. Like a great backing vocal it’s seamlessly blended, but it’s all there if you listen for it.

★ ★ ★ ★ Robbie Collin, Daily Telegraph

It is nostalgic, funny and full of clips of its subjects in full voice. That, though, is only part of its appeal. Perhaps without intending to, the film-makers have also stumbled on a rich and complicated story about talent, ambition and the nature of success. It is naive to think that performers such as Merry Clayton, Judith Hill (a former duet partner to Michael Jackson) and Claudia Lennear aren't interested in stardom. The paradox is that the music itself gets in the way. What makes them happy is, as one observer puts it, "when all the harmonies ping”. — Geoffrey Macnab, Independent

We sayWe’ve been trying to schedule this film for about a year. Now we’re delighted to present it – can’t wait!