I entered The New York Times features: Britney Spears thinking about it, I’ll see what they have to say, but what will this documentary tell me that I don’t already know? I was a teenager at the height of her and MTV’s success Total Request Live it was nothing less than a formative experience for me. I have a navel piercing. I traveled the country to attend my Las Vegas residency. I may not be bold enough to call myself an expert, but if I were on a trivia night and the subject was Britney Spears, I’m sure I would have that round blocked. And then I watched this documentary and it changed everything I thought I knew.
It’s not that much Framing Britney Spears she taught me a ton I didn’t already know about her career, but hell opened my eyes, especially watching the events of 20 years ago through the prism of today. I admit that I also got into this rather skeptical experience about the #FreeBritney movement. At times, it probably felt destroyed or a little dramatic, and we all know the danger of spreading conspiracy theories on the Internet today. But my mind has certainly changed in this regard and not only does it feel legitimate and more urgent than ever, but another example that despite the track on her 2000 album, maybe What U See is not always What you receive.
Immediately, this document establishes its credibility by including Felicia Culotta or Fe, since Britney fans will know her. It is especially remarkable that she takes us into her life today, as well as her career with Britney and how she has changed over the years, all remaining in herself bright, cheerful, optimistic and never making any statements. direct or cursing in one direction or another. She clearly shows that her participation in the documentary is “to remind people why they fell in love with her in the first place” and in this mission, she succeeds a lot.
However, what doesn’t take long to become clear is that we humans have failed Britney. Similar to last month Tiger documentary, this is a raw and brutal exploration of fame in America and exactly what is a dangerous game that always turns out to be. If anything, this story is even more messy and certainly more worrying. Britney hasn’t recovered yet. Although what this particular exposes may be the key to helping her achieve this.
While the early moments provide first-hand accounts suggesting that Britney was not the puppet she was thought to be in the early stages of her career, it then becomes awful to witness the way the media, and therefore all of us, I treated this young woman. Misogyny in the early 2000s will make you sick to your stomach. The fact that journalists (often men, natch) have found the right to ask such curious and private questions about her breasts, body and virginity is disgusting. But I ate it then. His ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake is always an easy target, but he is also involved here, at the beginning of his solo career, when he was desperate to be accepted, through a clip from which he made a bad comment on a radio show – one that would not remain unchanged today. Britney was judged for every choice she made, and no one seemed to stumble. When Kendel Ehrlich, the wife of the former governor of Maryland, said it all shoot Britney, the pop star’s instinctive and innocent response to “ew” is as authentic and succinct as it gets. Does this documentary feature more than one interview in which Britney breaks down in tears and I think I just watched?
Its fall is chronicled exactly as a carefree circus, but due to the rapid succession of clips, viewers can watch the light come out of their eyes. She is there at the beginning of Kevin Federline’s relationship, but by the end, along with her hair, she’s gone.
In addition to Felicia, there are those who have worked with Britney at the peak of her career, including Decider friend and former MTV VJ Dave Holmes, as well as New York Times editors, music and media professionals, paparazzi and lawyers. Everyone paints a picture that is very, very hard not to feel guilty. Even though I didn’t contribute directly, I didn’t help when she shouted clearly for it. As a fan, I feel complicit. The images of the night with the umbrella are hard to look at, but impossible to look at. I remember being on a spring break in the Bahamas at the time, and I saw that picture on the cover of a tabloid in a small market where you weren’t allowed to go through magazines unless you bought them. Imagine moving away from that image! But I did. I couldn’t believe it was true or not want to believe it was true. And I can’t believe we’re letting that point.
But I did too Framing Britney Spears explains exactly why: Britney is likely to suffer from a severe case of postpartum depression, however, I just looked at her shaved head and laughed at the many jokes about it. This says it all about the treatment of women, the most famous in America, and it will surely make you wonder: what did we hope to gain from this? What did we expect the result to be? Why didn’t I help? And what can we do to make up for it now?
She enters Britney’s father, Jamie Spears, who begins to get involved when her health is as fragile as it has ever been and, as the documentary suggests, probably for her own financial interests. That’s when the conservatory begins. Framing Britney Spears provides a context for Jamie’s interest and involvement in his daughter’s life throughout her career, which has not even been so explicitly stated so far. Lawyers here, with a degree of involvement from both Britney and Jamie, do a wonderful job of explaining in detail certain elements of a conservative case, while emphasizing what a huge legal impact it could have. in the following years – both on her life and in future cases. Fans concerned about her safety and freedom as part of the #FreeBritney campaign are also being interviewed out of court, showing their support with neon pink house signs.
The only thing this heartbreaking, angry and eye-opening documentary certainly knows is that this moment is and should be a wake-up call. You will hear the expression “we do not know what we do not know” several times and this is really and, unfortunately, the true present fact. We do not know what her current mental state is today – we only know what it was, what we hope it will be and the potential that remains. We can’t know for sure if Jamie’s control is harmful, although there are few things that suggest it is necessary or beneficial. We know there has to be an agreement that feels safe and satisfying for Britney, her father and her fans.
The documentary also addresses itself wisely on Instagram, which is regularly reviewed for clues about her current well-being, desires and stability. I want to believe the selfies, the dance and the “Questions and Answers” and the videos of fashion models and random as hell, the subtitles full of emoji are those of a content and even happy woman. But please know that it will be a real challenge to let go of this faith after pursuing it.
Framing Britney Spears is a must-watch not only for Britney fans, but for anyone with the slightest interest in modern pop culture. It presents as many questions as it answers, and it may be up to us to lead the conversation or protests out of court after watching this. It is impossible to appear without feeling extreme guilt for the way it was treated, the increase compared to what we now consider acceptable (although much remains to be done) and, finally, an urgency for this unique situation. This document can and should inspire many important conversations in the legal, music and media industries. Framing Britney Spears it’s fun to watch, but even more so, it’s shocking and hopefully motivating.
#FreeBritney
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