Raise Your Voice, an uplifting documentary, amounts mostly to a loving tribute, combining concert footage from Bernice’s farewell tour with behind-the-scenes footage showing both the individual and family sacrifices these sisters have had to make to share their transformational messages
Founded by recently-retired Bernice Johnson Reagon, Sweet Honey in the Rock is an all-female, acappella ensemble which for over 30 years has sung sweet and stinging spirituals about the human condition as seen from a black woman’s perspective.
Though the show will go on without her, Raise Your Voice, an uplifting documentary, amounts mostly to a loving tribute, combining concert footage from Bernice’s farewell tour with behind-the-scenes footage showing both the individual and family sacrifices these sisters have had to make to share their transformational messages.
On Monday, June 27th, the film will be screened at the Walter Reade Cinema at NYC’s Lincoln Center, where it will be followed by a Q&A session with producer/director Stanley Nelson and members of the group. Two days later, Wednesday, the 29th, the movie will premiere at either 9 or 10 PM as part of the American Masters series on most PBS television stations across the country. (Check local listings)
Excellent (4 stars)
Rating: Unrated
Running time: 90 minutes
Studio: Public Broadcasting System
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