Inside Celine Dion's battle: A raw look into her condition
A new, shocking documentary about Celine Dion includes a scene where the star is unable to speak or move and is in spasms. The director explains what viewers will see in the documentary, which will be available on Prime Video starting June 25.
12:22 PM EDT, June 25, 2024
In 2022, news broke that Celine Dion recorded a video explaining she is seriously ill and unable to perform. The disease she suffers from, Stiff-Person Syndrome, is very rare. Its progression is difficult for patients to accept because it involves episodes of stiffness. Muscles suddenly stiffen, and the attacks become more intense, causing pain and taking away independence. Viewers of the first documentary of its kind about the star's life will be able to see exactly what Celine is going through.
Dion wanted to show this
The film includes an almost 10-minute scene depicting one of Dion's attacks. For several minutes, the star is in agony, her body in spasms, unable to move or speak while viewers watch. As the film's director, Irene Taylor, commented in interviews, she had significant doubts about filming at that moment. Dion reportedly had a sudden attack, surprising the film crew.
"It literally happened in 30 seconds, it started in 30 seconds with the camera already rolling. It was so uncomfortable. - describes the director. - So in that first 30 seconds, I was not focused on filming, I was the sound person and my cinematographer was there. But there were several people in the room and everyone was doing what they were trained to do to help her, they’d all been given medical training on what to do if this happens. So she was in the best hands she could be in. If they needed an extra pair of hands, I would have dropped my microphone and gotten in (to) help them without a doubt. But I did decide to keep filming, knowing that we didn’t have to use it," she added.
Taylor admitted that Celine Dion wanted this scene to be shown to people. As the director admits, the star was incredibly positive after the attack and even comforted Taylor. "Don't worry about what happened," she said goodbye.
"An unimaginable situation" is how the director describes it in many interviews. She admits it was an overwhelming experience to see it with her own eyes, let alone film such an intimate moment. It happened during a therapy session with a doctor. Their sessions aim to make Dion physically fit so she can perform on stage.
In an interview with Today.com, the star's doctor, Dr. Amanda Piquet, explained that during the attack, Celine received a nasal spray with benzodiazepines. This medication alleviates anxiety and reduces muscle spasms.
