“Renaissance: The Films of Beyoncé” is a love letter to the Beyhive

After weeks of teasers and speculation, this The long-awaited “Renaissance: A Film by beyoncé” will have its world premiere on Friday.

On Thursday, I filed into my local theater 40 minutes before the show, which is a miracle for a chronically late person like me.Dressed in black, I try my best to hold on Beyonce’s Request the “comfortable opulence” theme on a budget with a Renaissance World Tour shirt, Ivy Park sweatpants and a classic logo hoodie from the athleisure 2016 collection.

Among the countless fashion fans present, the excitement and anticipation were palpable. We promoted each other’s outfits, argued about which items to buy, and spread the word that, yes, we would be reliving the famous “Silent Challenge” while she performed “Energy.”Renaissance World Tour was the first time I saw Beyoncé delivers nosebleeds live from MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. I knew the movie would provide a closer, more intimate look at the trip, both literally and figuratively, so I rushed to buy a ticket.

“Renaissance: a novel by beyoncé” is more than just a concert film or a backstage pass into the minds and hearts of the world’s greatest living entertainers. This movie is a love letter to the hive, beyoncé’s fan base and community—from Uncle Johnny to Blue Ivy Carter and beyond—became a pathway to liberation.

“Renaissance means new beginnings and rebirth,” she says in the film. “After everything we’ve been through in the world, I feel like everyone needs…a safe space to connect with each other and be part of the community together.”

“There are a lot of different bees in this hive,” the singer says in the film, addressing the truck drivers, stage designers, dancers and others who craft the tour experience at 56 stops. “This is more than just a concert. “It’s a culture, it’s a mentality, it’s a dream come true. ”

In ‘Renaissance’ film, Grammy winner Her unwavering dedication to excellence juxtaposes her humanity, struggles, flaws and more, ultimately showcasing the freedom she has gained along the way.

The movie opens with a performance for Beyoncé’s birthday, September 24th. 4 at SoFi Arena in Inglewood, California. After the opening ballad “Dangerously in Love,” the 42-year-old singer paused to sing a touching, emotional speech on stage Thanks to everyone who has supported her throughout her 27-year career. She gently dabbed the tears running down her face and kept her makeup impeccable. As she slowly introduced an uptempo track from her “Renaissance” album, the camera panned over the crowd, showing fans singing the lyrics in unison.

Whether it’s sound, costumes or choreography, the seamless editing and visual transitions reflect precision and intention throughout every aspect. Beyonce’s performance. In one photo, she is wearing a newly customized Loewe suit. In another photo, the music icon didn’t skip a beat, wearing a campy jumpsuit by Emilio Pucci.As the film progresses, we get to see the inner workings of Highest-grossing tour of the year and all the people who mobilized around it, coordinating outfits, making posters and chanting lyrics. “Renaissance” is our Spiritual revival.

Through the film, fans can marvel at Bay’s journey, discipline and execution of her vision. She was meticulous and methodical, but still a human being, bound by some of the same concrete and abstract constraints that we are. Even as she battled sinusitis and bronchitis, had an audio glitch that halted her show in Glendale, Arizona, and underwent knee surgery a month before tour rehearsals, Beyoncé always returned with more enthusiasm. Return to the stage. After three hours in the theater, your tears will run dry. Your words will certainly not be enough to describe what you just witnessed on the screen, and your spirit will feel invigorated.

As her choreographic director Fatima Robinson says, “Beyoncé is the director of this show,” and she’s involved in every detail of the Renaissance World Tour. Her formidable, unparalleled work ethic earned her attention and respect, but even now, she still needs to.

“As a black woman,” Beyoncé points out on camera, “the way people communicate with me is different. Everything is a battle…eventually, they realize this bitch isn’t going to give up.” She doesn’t Will be discouraged by imperfection or pointless resistance; she will persevere. She just works harder.

Recalling memories of watching Heroes perform live, Bey said she understood the power of the stage, which only heightened her demands: to stop the lights and pyrotechnics, to find wider camera shots, to simplify the stage visuals. “Mom, you’re wasting your time on your fingers!” the Hive’s favorite “manager” Blue Ivey says at one point in the film, scolding her mother for her focus on inflatable torsos during “There’s a Problem in America.” But the veteran entertainer stood her ground, explaining that she didn’t want the audience to be distracted from the music.

Like a mother, like a daughter, Blue Ivy speaks up and perseveres. When Beyoncé considered dropping “Diva” from her tour set list, her eldest daughter begged her to keep it, resulting in a genius “Just Wanna Rock” mashup and hilarious TikTok video.Furthermore, her eldest daughter’s determination gives us Highlights of the Renaissance World Tour: Blue dances with Bey in “My Power” and “Black Parade”. After Blue faced anti-Black attacks online as a child, seeing thousands of concertgoers rally around the young performer felt rejuvenating. Fans replicated their affection for her at the premiere, with cheers echoing around the theater when she appeared on screen.

Blue’s path to improvement as a performer isn’t hers alone. Her touring family, especially dance co-captain Amari Marshall, stimulated her growth. Tina Knowles hails Marshall as her grandson’stage mom,” In the video, Bey says she believes she can take care of Blue. Dancers like Carlos Irizarry, Honey Balenciaga, Darius Hickman and more briefly describe what this opportunity means to them personally; Ladder Dancer Trinity Joy Sanders It went viral, and within months, she landed her first professional gig working for Beyoncé. Bey, attracted by her tenacity and rawness, knew who she wanted and gave her a chance.

Without the touring family, the singer made it clear to moviegoers, there would be no Renaissance World Tour. Without the black queer community, there would be no “Renaissance” album. LGBTQ+ icons and black dancehall legends like Kevin Aviance, Ts Madison and Kevin JZ Prodigy,”The heartbeat of the Renaissance journey,” received their belated flowers during the movie.

The purpose of the Renaissance was to celebrate unrecognized, unsung heroes and, in Bay’s words, to “use art to celebrate people’s differences.” She tries to create a space where “everyone is free and no one is judged.” Beyoncé conveys this perfectly with bold songs like “Church Girl” and “Break My Soul.”

She also released the film on the 35th World AIDS Day to honor her late Uncle Johnny, a fearless role model. In the movie, Beyoncé wears the last dress he designed for her before his death. When high fashion brands shunned Destiny’s Child and rejected the idea of ​​black country, curvaceous girls dressing, Uncle Johnny and Tina Knowles stepped in. “Fashion saved my family,” Knowles said, recalling how important fashion was to their survival.

Bey credits Uncle Johnny with being the first person to introduce her to house music, and she often reflects on how challenging her life as a gay black Southerner born in the 1950s was for him. Still, her mother noted, her uncle always left him better than when he came. Knowles said when she looked at the crowds at the Renaissance World Tour, she saw people who reminded her of him.

From the crowd to the crew, all of these people, the bees in the hive, have contributed to the Beyoncé “Renaissance” that we know and love.In the closing credits, she thanks everyone, From drivers to designers, stylists, producers, editors and more. No one in the hive is left behind. “Renaissance” isn’t just an external product, it’s something Beyoncé achieved through this work.

By channeling her vulnerability and centering her community, she exudes joy, confidence and boldness, which is especially evident on her latest single, “My House,” which plays over the closing credits. At the end of the film, Bay reflects on her career and life, admitting that while she considers her 30s to be the peak of happiness, her 40s are only going to get better. At the end of the tour, her husband Jay-Z asked Bey how she was feeling. She responded with “proud,” declaring that she felt free.

Beyoncé is not dependent on the expectations of any institution or person, only her own. She continues to set the standard of excellence when she sings in Alien Superstar. Neither a Grammy nor a single award can define or diminish her identity.

“I am who I am. You either accept me or you don’t,” she says in the video. “I’ve spent most of my life pleasing people and in the end, I don’t care. “I have nothing to offer anyone at the moment. ”

If this is just the first act, I can’t wait to see what happens in the next two.