TIFF: ANDREA BOCELLI: BECAUSE I BELIEVE 

I attended the press screening for this amazing world-premiere documentary. Bocelli’s voice is pure magic and I’m a huge fan.  One of my all-time favourite LP’s is still “Romanza.”

Image: Courtesy of tiff

In this documentary we learn so much more about the man behind the voice.  Documentarian Cosima Spender follows the Italian tenor and crossover artist beyond the stage and into his private life. Using last year’s magisterial concert at the Baths of Caracalla as its anchor, Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe is an intimate portrait of one of the world’s greatest living singers.

Bocelli grew up in the Tuscan village of La Sterza. We learn that at at the young age of twelve, he became totally blind after suffering a brain hemorrhage as the result of a soccer accident. Doctors resorted to using leeches in a last-ditch effort to save his sight, but they were unsuccessful and Bocelli remained blind. However, undeterred by his lack of sight, he studied law at the University of Pisa while singing at piano bars and nightclubs to finance his education.

Despite his being born with congenital glaucoma and suffering a complete loss of sight at such a tender age, this is a completely uplifting documentary. He appears to not let anything hold him back from doing regular stuff.  He declares having “zero fear”, as he goes for long horseback rides alone. That same fearlessness helped him work his way up, going from paying gigs singing Sinatra songs at piano bars to eventually having a worldwide smash with “Time to Say Goodbye,” his astounding duet with Sarah Brightman.

Traversing the decades on his journey he’s earned recognition from everyone from Pavarotti to Jennifer Lopez and 29-year-old Dua Lipa.

This is an inspiring documentary with archival performance footage and informal gatherings with friends and family.  Friends that he’s known all of his life.  Aside from the obvious fame and glory, he and they remain true to each other. And his amazing young, beautiful daughter…the father/daughter duet in this doc is a must-see! It will bring tears to your eyes.

Because I Believe shows you that when you Believe it, you can Become it.