When it comes to true music icons, it’s fair to say they’re a rare breed – but anyone who knows Mavis Staples will tell you: she’s in a league of her own. With some sixty five years of performances behind her – and more still to come (she’s touring Australia as we publish this piece) – there are few who can match her legacy and acclaim.
That’s why it’s perhaps somewhat surprising that it’s taken 65 years of singing around the world for someone to come and make a film about the Gospel and Soul legend. But at the same time, there’s something about the film that makes you feel like it’s come at just the right time.
Directed by Jessica Edwards in what marks her feature debut, Mavis! tells the story of Mavis Staples mainly through her own words. This is a film that is as much a film about the present day performer as it is a look back at her illustrious career. It’s a reflection, by the singer herself, on everything that’s led to now – as she finally releases the final album of her father’s music, with the help of Jeff Tweedy, and continues to perform all around the world off the back of her 2013 release One True Vine.
The journey the film takes is one that showcases all the boundaries that Mavis and the Staples family crossed to become one of the most recorded artists in history. It shows how the Staples Singers were a leading force in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s push for racial equality – something Mavis continues to sing for to this day – when musicians from the same generation chose to stay out of the conversation. It shows how the group went from success to success all around the world, and how Mavis pushed forward on a solo career. And it shows just how damn talented this incredible woman is – and has always been.
But the experience of this film isn’t just about her own music, but also about witnessing Mavis collaborate with others. Whether it’s sitting in the room with the late Levon Helm – The Band were, after all, huge Staples fans, and had them sing on their classic track “The Weight” – or sitting and listening to the music of her beloved father Pops with Jeff Tweedy, watching Mavis talk about and experience music is a sight to behold in itself. And those scenes with Tweedy at the end of the film are about as emotional as you get. Beautiful, powerful stuff.
In Mavis!, Director Jessica Edwards has delivered a beautiful portrait of the legendary Mavis Staples and a near perfect music documentary. It’s a must watch for any music lover. There are few musicians whose stories are more important to tell than that of Mavis and her talented family and everyone should be thrilled to know Edwards has served the story well. Just make sure you bring a tissue or two…
Review Score: FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Mavis! Premiered at SXSW in Austin, Texas last month. Mavis Staples is currently touring Australia. The film’s premiere co-incides with the release of Pop Staples’ posthumous album Don’t Lose This, which is available now.
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