Renaissance Revolution: How Beyoncé is Redefining Concert Films

If you know anything about Beyonce, you know she doesn’t do anything ordinary. While fans expected her usual eye-catching visuals to accompany her latest album, “Renaissance,” Beyonce was thinking bigger. She’s no stranger to producing interesting, thought-provoking behind-the-scenes footage, but this is the first time she’s created a whole film on her own and released it to theaters. She isn’t the first artist to make a concert film, but with her incredible vision and attention to detail, it’s no surprise that she took it to the next level. Members of the Beyhive and casual fans alike have been totally in awe of her unbelievable performances on this Renaissance journey; capping it off with a film is simply brilliant.

Known to be extremely private, it’s always a treat when Beyonce allows fans inside her world. We see the finished product, but seeing the processes and even mistakes leading up to that provides a whole new perspective. She is incredibly hands-on with every aspect of her shows. You get to see her comb over every detail about the tour. At one point during the film, she asks her crew for a 30 ft long camera track, and they tell her it doesn’t exist without even checking. It seems she included this moment to show that even being one of the most famous people in the world doesn’t exclude her from being undermined as a black woman. She says, “I feel like the way people communicate with me is different. Everything is a fight.” And a simple Google search by Beyonce showed that what she wanted existed.

We are given a rare opportunity to see Beyonce as a wife and mother. Her 11-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, joined her on stage every night. Her evolution as a new performer is documented. You get to hear in her own words about her journey and watch her blossom. Seeing Beyonce nurture Blue and her talent is a beautiful full-circle moment. If you’ve been around since the beginning, it’s reminiscent of the early footage we saw of Beyonce’s career with her parents, Mathew and Tina, guiding her. There are also moments with her husband, Jay-Z, a look at her knee surgery, and so much more.

The concert footage in the film is fantastic. If you couldn’t attend a show, here’s your chance to enjoy it in a high-quality fashion. From the beautiful, intricately designed costumes to the massive high-tech stage, the experience is one for the books. The inclusion of ballroom culture in the choreography is the chef’s kiss. Beyonce’s voice sounds better than ever. Her vocal agility and effortless runs are sensational. The mic is definitely on!

Whenever conversations arise about who is the greatest, Beyonce’s name is always in the hat. Once you see this film, you will know precisely why if you did not know before. She exemplifies black excellence in everything she does. Once you see the blood, sweat, tears, and love she puts into her productions, you will walk away with a new level of respect for Queen Bey. She absolutely is the bar.